Methods for generating pre-oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (pre-OPCs) and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) from human pluripotent stem cells are provided using chemically-defined culture media that allow for generation of pre-OPCs and OPCs in as little as three days. Culture media, isolated cell populations and kits are also provided.

The invention disclosed herein generally relates to methods and systems for converting stem cells into specific tissue(s) or organ(s) through directed differentiation. In particular, the invention disclosed herein relates to methods and systems for promoting human self-organizing single-rosette spheroids (SOSRS), a type of brain organoid, comprising neuroepithelium having either a dorsal cell fate or a ventral cell fate formation from pluripotent stem cells.

The present disclosure provides methods for generating midbrain dopamine neurons and precursors thereof, midbrain dopamine neurons and precursors thereof generated by such methods and compositions comprising such cells, and uses thereof for preventing, modeling, and/or treating a neurological disorder.

The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into insulin producing cells. In particular, the present invention provides a method to produce cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage that co-express NKX6.1 and insulin and minimal amounts of glucagon.

Provided are cortical interneurons and other neuronal cells and in vitro methods for producing such cortical interneurons and other neuronal cells by the directed differentiation of stem cells and neuronal progenitor cells. The present disclosure relates to novel methods of in vitro differentiation of stem cells and neural progenitor cells to produce several type neuronal cells and their precursor cells, including cortical interneurons, hypothalamic neurons and pre-optic cholinergic neurons. The present disclose describes the derivation of these cells via inhibiting SMAD and Wnt signaling pathways and activating SHH signaling pathway. The present disclosure relates to the novel discovery that the timing and duration of SHH activation can be harnessed to direct controlled differentiation of neural progenitor cells into either cortical interneurons, hypothalamic neurons or pre-optic cholinergic neurons. The present disclosure also relates to compositions of cortical interneurons, hypothalamic neurons or pre-optic cholinergic neurons, and their precursors, that are highly enriched and can be used in variety of application. These cells can be used therapeutically to treat neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, and can be used for disease modeling and drug screening.

Provided are a composition for ciliogenesis, containing a mesenchymal stem cell or a culture medium of mesenchymal stem cell. The mesenchymal stem cell or the culture medium of mesenchymal stem cell increases the number and promotes growth of primary cilia in cells. The mesenchymal stem cell or the culture medium of mesenchymal stem cell can be used as a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating diseases caused by ciliopathy or ciliary impairment. The mesenchymal stem cell or the culture medium of mesenchymal stem cell can be used as a cosmetic composition. A method for preventing or treating ciliopathy or ciliary impairment is disclosed.

Methods for generating thymic epithelial progenitor (TEP) cells from pluripotent stem (PS) cells in vitro are provided. Compositions and systems of cell populations of TEP cells as well as cells formed during different stages of differentiation of PS cells into TEP cells are also disclosed. The methods, isolated in vitro cell populations, compositions, and systems disclosed provide functional TEP cells that mature into thymic epithelial cells in vivo.

Provided is a composition and an application thereof. The composition is used to prepare a medium for inducing differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells to liver precursor cells. By means of screening active components, optimizing the composition ratio and adding a GSK3-beta inhibitor, a Nodal activator, a BMP activator, a BMP inhibitor and a Hedgehog activator, human pluripotent stem cells are induced to differentiate to liver precursor cells. The process is simple and efficient, the content of positive cells is high, and the cost of cell differentiation is reduced. The invention can be used for research and application in drug development and regenerative medicinal treatment, and has broad application prospects.

The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides methods to produce a population of cells, wherein greater than 10% of the cells in the population express markers characteristic of single hormonal pancreatic beta cells.

A method for inducing differentiation into pancreatic α cells includes: a step (a) of culturing endodermal cells, which have been induced to differentiate from pluripotent stem cells, in the presence of a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling inhibitor, and retinoic acid or a retinoic acid analog to induce differentiation into primitive gut tube (PGT) cells; a step (b) of culturing the primitive gut tube (PGT) cells to induce differentiation into pancreatic endocrine precursor (EP) cells; and a step (c) of culturing the pancreatic endocrine precursor (EP) cells to induce differentiation into pancreatic α cells, in which the step (b) and the step (c) are performed in the absence of ascorbic acid.