The present invention relates to stem cells derived from a multi-layered cellular structure or blastocyst structure, compositions comprising the same, and methods for obtaining the same.

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.

Disclosed are findings that: (a) induced pluripotent stem cells derived from aged donors (A-iPSC) show increased genomic instability, a defect in apoptosis, a defect in glucose metabolism, and a blunted DNA damage response are compared to those derived from young donors (Y-iPSC); and (b) inhibition of excessive glutathione-mediated H.sub.2O.sub.2 scavenging activity, found to be associated with A-iPSC and in turn inhibiting DNA damage response and apoptosis, substantially rescues these defects and reduces the oncogenic potential of A-iPSC. Supplementation of pluripotency factor ZSCAN10 (shown to be poorly activated in A-iPSC and to act upstream of glutathione involvement), e.g., by expression as an adjunct to the four Yamanaka iPSC reprogramming factors, led to substantial recovery of genomic stability, DNA damage response, and apoptosis in A-iPSC through enhancing GLUT3 and normalizing homeostasis of glutathione/H.sub.2O.sub.2; GLUT3 (a pluripotent stem cell-specific glucose transporter acting upstream of glutathione and also poorly activated in A-iPSC) has similar effects, indicating that inhibition of glutathione/H.sub.2O.sub.2 notably through delivery of ZSCAN 10 and/or GLUT3 and/or an exosome subunit will be clinically useful, resulting in A-iPSC of improved properties and reduced oncogenic potential.

The disclosure provides a method of preparing HSPC for bone marrow transplantation, the method comprising (a) obtaining donor hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and (b) upregulating expression of Kruppel-like factor 6.

Described herein are methods of transdifferentiating preadipocytes, populations of transdifferentiated preadipocytes, and methods of using the transdifferentiated preadipocytes.

Universal human induced pluripotent stem cells (universal hiPSCs) and a method of forming the same are provided in the disclosure, including the following steps: providing a first cell group including human stem cells; providing a second cell group including human mononuclear cells; in some embodiments, the second cell group further includes human stem cells, in which the human stem cells of the second cell group are allogenic cells from the first cell group; mixing the first cell group and the second cell group to form cell mixture; maintaining the cell mixture at a temperature below 30° C. for at least one day; reprogramming the human stem cells of the cell mixture to obtain universal hiPSCs. The universal hiPSCs includes human leukocyte antigen-1 (HLA class I) gene and human leukocyte antigen-2 (HLA class II) gene, but no HLA class I and HLA class II expressions.

The present disclosure provides a method of generating mature mesenchymal stem cells and the cell culture medium used in such method. Also disclosed herein include a mesenchymal stem cell culture obtained by the method as disclosed herein, and uses thereof.

Methods of enhancing fertility of a female subject by increasing the number of oogonia present in the ovary of the female subject are provided. Aspects of the methods include methods of in vivo expansion of oogonia as well as methods of ex vivo expansion of oogonia.

Methods for reprogramming primate somatic cells to pluripotency using an episomal vector that does not encode an infectious virus are disclosed. Pluripotent cells produced in the methods are also disclosed.

Provided are chemical inducers of pluripotency (CIP) which include glycogen synthase kinase inhibitors, TGFβ receptor inhibitors, cyclic AMP agonists and S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAH) inhibitors or histone acetylators. A method of inducing pluripotency in a partially or completely differentiated cell by using such chemical inducers of pluripotency is also provided. The method includes: (i) contacting a cell with the CIPs for a sufficient period of time to result in reprograming the cell into a pluripotent stem cell having ESC-like characteristics (CiPSC). Isolated chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (CiPSCs) and their progeny, produced by inducing differentiation of the CiPSCs, can be used in a number of applications, including but not limited to cell therapy and tissue engineering.