A method for producing CD4/CD8 double-positive T cells, comprising the steps of: (1) culturing pluripotent stem cells in a medium to induce hematopoietic progenitor cells; and (2) culturing the hematopoietic progenitor cells obtained in the step (1) in a medium containing a p38 inhibitor and/or SDF-1 to induce CD4/CD8 double-positive T cells.

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.

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.

Cells derived from postpartum placenta and methods for their isolation are provided by the invention. The invention further provides cultures and compositions of the placenta-derived cells. The placenta-derived cells of the invention have a plethora of uses, including but not limited to research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications.

The present invention relates to an immunocyte having higher cytotoxic activity, and a pharmaceutical composition for NK cell therapies, for which high effect can be expected. The present invention provides a cell population including CCR5-positive, CCR6-positive, CXCR3-positive, and CD3-negative cells. The present invention provides the cell population, wherein the CCR5-positive, CCR6-positive, CXCR3-positive, and CD3-negative cells further highly express CD11c. The present invention provides a CCR5-positive, CCR6-positive, CXCR3-positive, and CD3-negative cell, which infiltrates into a solid tumor. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition containing such a cell population and a pharmaceutically acceptable additive. The present invention further provides a method for producing the aforementioned cell population.

Cells derived from postpartum placenta and methods for their isolation are provided by the invention. The invention further provides cultures and compositions of the placenta-derived cells. The placenta-derived cells of the invention have a plethora of uses, including but not limited to research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications.

Methods, kits and compositions for generating cancer stem cells are provided.

In vitro biomimetic models of the neonatal immune system are provided along with methods of using the models in pre-clinical assessment of infant immune cell-mediated and humoral responses to immunogenic stimulation, such as vaccination. The models include one comprising cord blood-derived T follicular helper cells and B cells, and one comprising cord blood-derived dendritic cells and CD4+ T cells. The models can be used, for example, to assess candidate vaccines via analysis of cellular responses to antigen and vaccine exposure.

Provided is a muscle stem cell in vitro culture method. A muscle stem cell is cultivated in vitro by using a cell culture medium of a cell factor added with a blood cell or a conditioned medium of the blood cell. Also provided is a culture medium used in the muscle stem cell in vitro culture method and an application thereof.

The present invention relates to the production and culture of undifferentiated spermatogonial stem cells that can be maintained long term and are feeder free. The resultant feeder-free populations can be used in any of a number of protocols including the generation of progeny bulls. The present invention includes novel methods required for the successful enrichment of bovine spermatogonial stem cells, novel cell lines and other components used for the same, as well as the resultant stem cell compositions.