The present invention relates to a method for reprogramming a first cell type to an intermediate cell of a second cell type comprising the step of contacting the first cell with a first agent to modulate an integrin profile in the first cell type to provide an intermediate cell of the second cell type. The present invention also relates to a reprogrammed cell obtained by the method of the invention, a kit for reprogramming a first cell type to a second cell type as well as methods for treating a patient in need of cell based therapy, tissue replacement and cancer therapy.

Methods of isolating distinct specific cell types within mixed populations of cells. Methods of isolating specific cell types among pancreatic cells, particularly from human islets of Langerhans. Markers and combinations thereof for use in methods of isolating insulin producing islet beta cells for treatment of diabetes.

The present invention relates to methods that are based on expression of integrin alpha10 and integrin alpha11 on chondrocytes, used for determining purity, quality, degree of chondrocytic identity, chondrocytic potency, and/or degree of chondrocytic phenotype of a composition comprising chondrocytes, as well as for isolating and enriching a population of high quality chondrocytes and controlling culturing and expanding of high quality chondrocytes. The present invention relates also to composition comprising chondrocytes.

The present invention provides systems for cell separation based on cell rolling on surfaces along edges of regions coated with cell adhesion molecules. A variety of designs of coated regions and edges are disclosed.

The present invention pertains to periostin compounds for use in the prevention and treatment of haematological complications, such as adverse events from therapy or haematological diseases. In context of the present invention a therapeutic was developed for enhancing haematopoiesis in patients and to support haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation (HSCT) by administration of periostin compounds to patients or stem cell donors, or by contacting HSC directly with periostin compounds, for example ex vivo, to improve a transplant HSC preparation. The present invention provides periostin derived compounds such as polypeptides, peptides, nucleic acids, and other periostin-derived agents, that are used both in therapeutic applications and for improving haematopoiesis, for example in stem cell donor subjects or to treat HSC in vitro.

A kit for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and a pharmaceutical composition for treating Alzheimer's disease are disclosed, in which EDIL3 or a nucleic acid encoding EDIL3 is used as an index or target.