Disclosed are populations of dendritic cells generated from stem cells capable of inducing immunity towards cancer. In one embodiment said dendritic cells are generated from allogeneic inducible pluripotent stem cells, for some uses, said pluripotent stem cells are genetically engineered/edited to induce cancer specific immunity and/or resist immunosuppressive effect of tumor derived microenvironment. In one embodiment pluripotent stem cells are transfected with cancer stem cell antigens such as BORIS and/or NR2F6.

Methods are provided for producing a population of hepatocyte-like cells (iHeps) from a population of adipocyte-derived stem cells (ASCs). Aspects of the methods include placing a population of ASCs into a three dimensional culture (e.g., hanging drop suspension culture, high density culture, spinner flask culture, microcarrier culture, etc.), and contacting the cells with a first and second culture medium. Also provided are methods of treating an individual, which include producing a population of iHeps from a population of ASCs, and administering an effective number of iHeps into the individual. Kits for practicing the methods are also described herein.

The present invention relates to a method for producing induced natural killer (iNK) cells, into which a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) gene encoding a CAR is introduced, iNK cells produced by the method, and a cell therapy composition and a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cancer, comprising the iNK cells.

The method according to the present invention has the effects of producing the iNK cells, into which a CAR gene is introduced, with high efficiency through direct reprogramming from isolated cells without limiting an initial cell, and directly producing the same without a differentiation process, thereby simplifying the production process and reducing costs and time. The method according to the present invention has the effect of producing excellent NK cells having enhanced safety by directly producing NK cells from human somatic cells that are easy to obtain, without passing through induced pluripotent stem cells produced through conventional reprogramming technology. In addition, the iNK cells, into which a CAR gene is introduced, produced by the method, have an excellent cancer cell killing ability, and thus can be effectively utilized as a cell therapy composition or a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cancer.

Methods are provided for producing a population of hepatocyte-like cells (iHeps) from a population of adipocyte-derived stem cells (ASCs). Aspects of the methods include placing a population of ASCs into a three dimensional culture (e.g., hanging drop suspension culture, high density culture, spinner flask culture, microcarrier culture, etc.), and contacting the cells with a first and second culture medium. Also provided are methods of treating an individual, which include producing a population of iHeps from a population of ASCs, and administering an effective number of iHeps into the individual. Kits for practicing the methods are also described herein.

The invention relates to methods of reprogramming a somatic cell comprising culturing the somatic cell in the presence of one or more Yamanaka factors and further culturing said somatic cell in the absence of said one or more Yamanaka factors. The invention further relates to a reprogrammed somatic cell produced according to the methods as defined herein. Also provided are cosmetic methods, cosmetic compositions, a reprogrammed somatic cell and compositions for use in treatment or rejuvenation, as well as methods for screening age modulating agents, factors and/or cellular processes, comprising the methods and a reprogrammed somatic cell as defined herein.

Methods are disclosed for reprogramming a somatic cell, including an adherent cell and a cell in suspension, into an induced pluripotent stem comprising expressing exogenous Sox-2, exogenous Klf-4, exogenous Oct3/4 from DNA that has not integrated into the genome of the somatic cell, suppressing p53 activity within the somatic cell, and exposing the somatic cell to reprogramming-assistance factors comprising an exogenous Alk-5 inhibitor, an exogenous histone deacetylase inhibitor, and an exogenous activator of glycolysis. Compositions and kits for use in such methods are also disclosed as are cells made by such a method.

Methods for effecting the de-differentiation of somatic cells to cells having stem cell characteristics, in particular pluripotency, include the steps of introducing RNA encoding factors inducing the de-differentiation of somatic cells into the somatic cells and culturing the somatic cells allowing the cells to de-differentiate.

The invention provides universally acceptable “off-the-shelf” hypoimmune pluripotent (HIP) cells and hypoimmune chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells derived from the HIP cells. The engineered therapeutic cells can be administered to subjects as an adoptive cell-based immunotherapy to treat cancer.

An objective of the present invention is to provide vectors for conveniently and efficiently producing ES-like cells in which foreign genes are not integrated into the chromosome. The present inventors discovered methods for producing ES-like cells from somatic cells using chromosomally non-integrating viral vectors. Since no foreign gene is integrated into the chromosome of the produced ES-like cells, they are advantageous in tests and research, and immunological rejection and ethical problems can be avoided in disease treatments.

The present invention relates to compositions, kits and methods for making and using RNA compositions comprising in vitro-synthesized ssRNA inducing a biological or biochemical effect in a mammalian cell or organism into which the RNA composition is repeatedly or continuously introduced. In certain embodiments, the invention provides compositions and methods for changing the state of differentiation or phenotype of a human or other vertebrate cell. For example, the present invention provides mRNA and methods for reprogramming cells that exhibit a first differentiated state or phenotype to cells that exhibit a second differentiated state or phenotype, such as to reprogram human somatic cells to pluripotent stem cells.