The purpose of the present invention is to develop a virus vector, the activity of which is rendered controllable. A virus protein gene derived from an RNA virus is provided in which a gene encoding an optical switch protein is inserted into a foreign gene introducible region of the virus protein so as to enable expression of the gene. By means of this virus vector, it is possible to control, with irradiation of light, enzyme activity of the virus protein and virus vector activity based thereon.

Provided herein are methods for the efficient in vitro maintenance, expansion, culture, and/or differentiation of pluripotent cells with disruption of the MeCP2 gene into various erythroid, myeloid, lymphoid, or endoderm lineages, particularly mature erythrocytes. The pluripotent cells may be maintained and differentiated under defined conditions; thus, the use of mouse feeder cells or serum is not required in certain embodiments for the differentiation of the precursor cells.

The present disclosure relates to a placenta-derived cell-conditioned medium for inducing dedifferentiation into induced pluripotent stem cells from somatic cells and a method for inducing dedifferentiation using the same. When the placenta-derived cell-conditioned medium for inducing dedifferentiation according to the present disclosure is employed, personalized dedifferentiation stem cells can be stably established using a medium composed of human-derived products only. Provision of a human placenta-derived environment similarly represents an in vivo environment and allows the production of a cell therapy product without problems for clinical application.

The disclosure relates to a method of reprogramming one or more somatic cells, e.g., partially differentiated or fully/terminally differentiated somatic cells, to a less differentiated state, e.g., a pluripotent or multipotent state. In further embodiments the invention also relates to reprogrammed somatic cells produced by methods of the invention, to chimeric animals comprising reprogrammed somatic cells of the invention, to uses of said cells, and to methods for identifying agents useful for reprogramming somatic cells.

According to the present invention, there are provided a method for producing a human T cell, which comprises the steps of inducing an iPS cell from a human T cell, and differentiating the iPS cell into a T cell; a pharmaceutical composition comprising the T cell produced by the method; and a method for cell-based immunotherapy using the method.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for reprogramming somatic cells using purified RNA preparations comprising single-strand mRNA encoding an iPS cell induction factor. The purified RNA preparations are preferably substantially free of RNA contaminant molecules that: i) would activate an immune response in the somatic cells, ii) would decrease expression of the single-stranded mRNA in the somatic cells, and/or iii) active RNA sensors in the somatic cells. In certain embodiments, the purified RNA preparations are substantially free of partial mRNAs, double-stranded RNAs, un-capped RNA molecules, and/or single-stranded run-on mRNAs.

Provided herein are methods for the efficient in vitro differentiation of somatic cell-derived pluripotent stem cells to hematopoietic precursor cells, and the further differentiation of the hematopoietic precursor cells into immune cells of various myeloid or lymphoid lineages, particularly T cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells. The pluripotent cells may be maintained and differentiated under defined conditions; thus, the use of mouse feeder cells or serum is not required in certain embodiments for the differentiation of the hematopoietic precursor cells.

The present disclosure provides cell-based compositions for treating diabetes, methods for identifying cells that preferentially differentiate into endoderm cells, and methods for preparing insulin-producing pancreatic cells, as well as related methods of use for treating diseases related to insulin deficiency.

The present invention relates to a method for producing natural killer cells using direct reprogramming, natural killer cells produced thereby, a biomarker specific to the natural killer cells, a cell therapeutic agent comprising the natural killer cells, a composition for treatment and prevention of cancer, a cryopreservation cell vial for storing the natural killer cells, and a medium kit for inducing the direct reprogramming. Exhibiting excellent proliferative potential and cancer cell killing potential, the natural killer cells produced by the production method can be effectively utilized for mass production and in a composition for treatment and prevention of cancer.

Methods of differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into hematopoietic precursor cells, wherein the method is carried out under suspension agitation, and wherein a GSK-3-inhibitor or a Wnt pathway activator is added during a stage of mesoderm induction, and cell culture media for use in the methods, as well as kits for performing the same.