The present invention relates to methods of generating and expanding hitman embryonic stem eel! derived mesenchymal-like stem/siromal cells. These hES-MSCs are characterized at least in part by the low level of expression of IL-6. These cells are useful for the prevention and treatment of T cell related autoimmune disease, especially multiple sclerosis, as well as for delivering agents across the blood-brain barrier and the blood-spinal cord barrier. Also provided is a method of selecting clinical grade hES-MSC and a method of modifying MSC to produced a MSC with specific biomarker profile. The modified MSC are useful for treatment of various diseases.

Provided herein are methods of producing erythrocytes from hematopoietic cells, particularly hematopoietic cells from placental perfusate in combination with hematopoietic cells from umbilical cord blood, wherein the method results in accelerated expansion and differentiation of the hematopoietic cells to more efficiently produce administrable erythrocytes. Further provided herein is a bioreactor in which hematopoietic cell expansion and differentiation takes place.

The invention relates to an in vitro method to generate T cell progenitors, comprising the step of culturing CD34+ cells in a medium containing TNF-alpha and/or an antagonist of the Aryl hydro-carbon/Dioxin receptor, in particular StemRegenin 1 (SR1), in presence of a Notch ligand and optionally a fibronectin fragment.

Provided herein are methods for the activation and expansion of T cells. Further provided are methods for the use of the T cells for therapy.

Implementations are described that relate to methods and systems for growing cells in a hollow fiber bioreactor. In implementations, the cells may be exposed to a number of growth factors including a combination of recombinant growth factors. In other implementations, the cells may be grown in co-culture with other cells, e.g., hMSC's. In implementations, the cells may include CD34+ cells. A coated membrane includes a membrane having a first coating configured to promote cellular adhesion to the membrane and a second coating that includes a soluble protein moiety.

Disclosed are means, methods and compositions of matter useful for induction of immunological responses towards tumor endothelial cells. In one embodiment the invention teaches fusion of dendritic cells and cells resembling tumor endothelial cells and administration of such chimeric cells as an immunotherapy for stimulation of tumor endothelial cell destruction. In other embodiments pluripotent stem cells are utilized to generate dendritic cells, wherein said dendritic cells are fused with pluripotent stem cell derived endothelial cells created in a manner to resemble tumor endothelial cells.

The disclosure provided herein relates generally to mesenchymal-like stem cells “hES-T-MiSC” or “T-MSC” and the method of producing the stem cells. The method comprises culturing embryonic stem cells under conditions that the embryonic stem cells develop through an intermediate differentiation of trophoblasts, and culturing the differentiated trophoblasts to hES-T-MSC or T-MSC, T-MSC derived cells and cell lineages “T-MSC-DL” are also described. Disclosed also herein are solutions and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the T-MSC and/or T-MSC-DL, methods of making the T-MSC and T-MSC-DL, and methods of using the T-MSC and T-MSC-DL for treatment and prevention of diseases, specifically, T-MSC and T-MSC-DL are used as immunosuppressive agents to treat multiple sclerosis and autoimmune diseases.

The present invention relates to methods for making in vitro retinal cultures, tissue, or retinal organoids, from pluripotent cells as well as the improved synthetic retinal tissue and retinal organoids themselves. It also relates to retinal organoids that replicate in vitro many characteristics of the retina (e.g., human or mammalian), and methods of using this retinal organoid to study disease and to identify therapeutic agents for the treatment of retinal diseases and disorders.

This invention relates to the production of a population of haemogenic progenitor cells by (i) differentiating a population of induced pluri potent stem cells (IPSCs) into mesoderm cells and; (II) differentiating the mesoderm cells to produce a population of haemogenic progenitor cells. Steps (i) and (ii) are performed without purification or isolation of cells in the population. In addition, the haemogenic progenitor cells may be produced without the use of serum or stromal co-culture. Methods of the invention may be useful for example, in the production of clinical grade blood cells, such as T cells, for use in immunotherapy.

Disclosed herein are new methods of producing a novel line of dendritic cells. The method comprises subjecting a sample of hematopoietic stem/precursor cells to a first feeder culture system that is supplemented with a first set of factors and a second feeder culture system supplemented with a second group of factors. The disclosure also pertains to new cell types that may be used as cancer immunotherapy.