Aspects of the invention relate to a novel mesenchymal stem cell line (hb-MSC), a culture medium conditioned by the hb-MSC line, and various hb-MSC compositions. The hb-MSC composition may include a plurality of hb-MSCs, an hb-MSC conditioned medium, or a combination thereof. The hb-MSC composition may also include an appropriate carrier. Also described are methods of use for the hb-MSC cells, the conditioned medium and compositions thereof.

A culture medium for human adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells includes a keratinocyte-SFM basal medium, L-Cysteine, FGF and SDF-1 is disclosed. The culture medium is effective for growing mesenchymal stem cells at a high proliferation rate while maintaining the purity, characterization and undifferentiated state of the cells.

Methods for obtaining purified populations of megakaryocytes and platelets by ex vivo culture of stem cells are provided herein.

An object of the present invention is to provide CAR-expressing T cells that coexpress a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a T cell immune function-enhancing factor and have a high immunity-inducing effect and antitumor activity, and to provide a CAR expression vector for the preparation of the CAR-expressing T cells.

A CAR expression vector comprises a nucleic acid encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a nucleic acid encoding a T cell immune function-enhancing factor, wherein the nucleic acid encoding an immune function-enhancing factor is a nucleic acid encoding interleukin-7 and a nucleic acid encoding CCL19, a nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative mutant of SHP-1, or a nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative mutant of SHP-2, or a CAR-expressing T cell introduced with the CAR expression vector are prepared.

The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides an improved method for the formation of pancreatic endoderm, pancreatic hormone expressing cells and pancreatic hormone secreting cells. The present invention also provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells without the use of a feeder cell layer.

The invention provides methods for using Umbilical Cord Lining Stem Cells (ULSCs) to produce therapeutic factors including growth factors, cytokines, chemokines and extracellular matrix components. ULSCs are mesenchymal stem cells isolated from umbilical cord lining. They can be efficiently propagated and expanded in vitro. Under specific conditions ULSCs produce useful therapeutic factors that can be used to treat injuries and degenerative conditions.

Factor rich compositions produced from umbilical cord (UC) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are described. Secretory UC MSCs in serum free culture conditions produce a factor rich conditioned medium which may be concentrated and filtered to obtain clinical grade products.

The present disclosure provides a composition comprising a bioactive fraction derived from a platelet concentrate, methods of making the bioactive fraction, and culture medium supplemented with the bioactive fraction. Preferred bioactive fractions have relatively low fibrinogen concentrations while retaining native growth factors in beneficial amounts and ratios.

The present invention provides a method for producing a human cell aggregate containing a midbrain-hindbrain boundary neural progenitor tissue, including subjecting an aggregate of human pluripotent stem cells to suspension culturing in a serum-free medium containing insulin, and treating, in the suspension culturing, the aggregate of human pluripotent stem cells or a human cell aggregate derived therefrom with a ROCK inhibitor, a TGFβ signal inhibitor, and a first fibroblast growth factor. Furthermore, the human cell aggregate containing the midbrain-hindbrain boundary neural progenitor tissue is subjected to suspension culturing in a serum-free medium to induce formation of a neuroepithelial structure by neural progenitor in the neural progenitor tissue, whereby the human cell aggregate containing the cerebellar plate tissue can be obtained.

Methods for producing an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof specifically binding to an antigen of interest, methods for inducing proliferation of PBMCs, B cell activation and differentiation, B cell maturation, and/or promoting class switch in an antibody-producing PBMC to produce IgG, compositions for the in vitro immunization and methods for identifying an antibody-enhancing factor for in vitro immunization.