This disclosure relates generally to new methods of maintaining the expression of hepatic genes in human hepatocytes and method for maintaining the functional hepatic enzyme activity of primary hepatocytes in culture. The disclosure also encompasses new methods of deriving a population of pure hepatocytes without selecting or sorting the cells from the cultured pluripotent cells.

A catalyst support comprising at least 95% silicon carbide, having surface areas of ≤10 m.sup.2/g and pore volumes of ≤1 cc/g. A method of producing a catalyst support, the method including mixing SiC particles of 0.1-20 microns, SiO.sub.2 and carbonaceous materials to form an extrusion, under inert atmospheres, heating the extrusion at temperatures of greater than 1400° C., and removing residual carbon from the heated support under temperatures below 1000° C. A catalyst on a carrier, comprising a carrier support having at least about 95% SiC, with a silver solution impregnated thereon comprising silver oxide, ethylenediamine, oxalic acid, monoethanolamine and cesium hydroxide. A process for oxidation reactions (e.g., for the production of ethylene oxide, or oxidation reactions using propane or methane), or for endothermic reactions (e.g., dehydrogenation of paraffins, of ethyl benzene, or cracking and hydrocracking hydrocarbons).

The presently disclosed subject matter provides for in vitro methods of inducing differentiation of human stem cells into cortical neurons, and cortical neurons generated by such methods. The presently disclosed subject matter also provides for uses of such cortical neurons for treating neurodegenerative CNS disorders.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) represent innate versions of T helper and cytotoxic T cells that differentiate from committed ILC precursors (ILCP). Still, how ILCP relate to mature tissue-resident ILCs remains unclear. ILCP that are present in the blood and all tested lymphoid and non-lymphoid human tissues were identified. Human ILCP fail to express the signature transcription factors (TF) and cytokine outputs of mature NK cells and ILCs but are epigenetically poised to do so. Human ILCP robustly generate all ILC subsets in vitro and in vivo. While human ILCP express RAR related orphan receptor C (RORC), circulating ILCP can be found in RORC-deficient patients that retain potential for EOMES.sup.+ NK cells, T-BET.sup.+ ILC1, GATA-3.sup.+ ILC2 and for IL-22.sup.+ but not for IL-17A.sup.+ ILC3. A model of tissue ILC differentiation (‘ILC-poiesis’) is proposed whereby diverse ILC subsets are generated in situ from ILCP in response to environmental stressors, inflammation and infection.

The present invention relates to the field of in vitro 3D modeling of neural tissues, particularly of the brain. There is the need of developing cell culture models of neural tissue that reflect physiological aspects of neural tissue. The present invention provides methods of producing bioengineered neuronal organoids (BENOs) which form functional neuronal networks. The present invention also relates to uses and applications of the produced BENOs, e.g., in the fields of drug screening and personalized medicine.

Compositions and methods for administering optogenetically-activatable cells for repair of the nervous system after injury or disease are contemplated herein.

The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells and the products related to or resulting from such methods. In particular, the present invention provides an improved method for the formation of pancreatic hormone expressing cells and pancreatic hormone secreting cells. In addition, the present invention also provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells without the use of a feeder cell layer and the products related to or resulting from such methods. The present invention also provides methods to promote glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in insulin-producing cells derived from pluripotent stem cells.

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 hydrocarbon/Dioxin receptor, in particular StemRegenin 1 (SR1), in presence of a Notch ligand and optionally a fibronectin fragment.

Spinal cord neural stem cells (NSCs) have great potential to reconstitute damaged spinal neural circuitry. In some embodiments, derivation of spinal cord NSCs from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is described. These spinal cord NSCs can differentiate into a diverse population of spinal cord neurons comprising multiple positions in the dorso-ventral axis, and can be maintained for prolonged time periods. After grafting into injured spinal cords, grafts may be rich with excitatory neurons, extend large numbers of axons over long distances, innervate their target structures, and enable robust corticospinal regeneration. In some embodiments, hPSC-derived spinal cord NSCs enable a broad range of biomedical applications for in vitro disease modeling, and can provide a clinically-translatable cell source for spinal cord “replacement” strategies in several spinal cord disorders.

Embodiments herein provide methods of differentiating neural stem cells to neuronal cells while concomitantly retarding neural stem cell proliferation. Resultant cultures demonstrate reduced clumping of cells, increased purity of neuronal cells and accelerated electrophysiology as compared to control methods.