The invention provides methods for the ex-vivo expansion of CD4+CD25+ Tregs. The invention provides a method for producing ex vivo expanded Tregs that may be used to inhibit unwanted human immune responses against self-antigens or allergens. Additionally, the ex vivo expanded Tregs may provide treatment for inflammatory/autoimmune diseases.

Compositions and methods are provided for converting the predominant circulating classical monocytes to a non-classical and/or intermediate monocyte phenotype through cytokine stimulation via, for example, macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Once cultured into dendritic cells, these non-classical and/or intermediate monocyte derived cells have increased costimulatory molecule expression, which leads to improved immune and clinical responses in cancer patients receiving dendritic cell vaccination and other immunotherapies. In addition, assays and diagnostic and theranostic methods are provided herein that relate to the discoveries that, prior to treatment, intermediate (CD14+CD16+) and non-classical (CD14dimCD16+) monocytes are increased more than two-fold in patients who later had complete responses to dendritic cell therapy or DC vaccination.

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 isolated population of cells comprising non-GVHD inducing anti-third party cells having a central memory T-lymphocyte (Tcm) phenotype is provided. The cells being tolerance-inducing cells and capable of homing to the lymph nodes following transplantation. Methods of generating same, use of same and methods of treatment are also provided.

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.

Methods of treating osteoarthritis using protocatechuic acid (PCA) injected into an osteoarthritis joint are provided.

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.

This invention provides methods to prepare and use immunostimulatory cells for enhancing an immune response. The invention provides a method for preparing mature dendritic cells (DCs), comprising the sequential steps of: (a) signaling isolated immature dendritic cells (iDCs) with a first signal comprising an interferon gamma receptor (IFN-γR) agonist and/or a tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor (TNF-αR) agonist to produce signaled dendritic cells; and (b) signaling said signaled dendritic cells with a second transient signal comprising an effective amount of a CD40 agonist to produce CCR7.sup.+ mature dendritic cells. Also provided by this invention are enriched populations of dendritic cells prepared by the methods of the invention. Such dendritic cells have enhanced immunostimulatory properties and increased IL-12 secretion and/or decreased IL-10 secretion. CD40 signaling can be initiated by one or more of polypeptide translated from an exogenous polynucleotide encoding CD40L (e.g., mRNA or DNA), an agonistic antibody to CD40 receptor or by CD40 ligand polypeptide. The enriched populations can be further modified by the administration of an immunogen to the DC. The DC will take up and process the immunogen on its cell surface.

The invention relates in certain embodiments to a method for generating dendritic cells by employing temperatures below 37° C. during the development of progenitor cells and immature dendritic cells. In some embodiments the invention relates to populations of dendritic cells and its use.

Methods for obtaining multipotent Apelin receptor-positive lateral plate mesoderm cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and mesangioblasts under serum-free conditions are disclosed.