The present invention provides methods and kits for differentiating podocytes from pluripotent stem cells and from other cell types.

The present invention relates to a method for producing dendritic cells with increased capability to activate T cells, to dendritic cells obtainable by such a method, and to a pharmaceutical composition comprising such dendritic cells.

The present disclosure provides methods of protecting and expanding hematopoietic cells. The present disclosure also provides methods of increasing the potency of hematopoietic cells. Aspects of the methods include contacting a starting population of hematopoietic cells with a therapeutically effective amount of at least one ALDH2 agonist. Aspects include in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo methods of protecting, expanding and increasing the potency of hematopoietic cells. Aspects of the methods include treating an individual who is undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer, has been exposed to damaging toxins, has a genetic disease that leads to HSC damage, bone marrow failure, an autoimmune disease, or development of hematologic malignancies. Aspects of the methods also include treating a healthy individual who is a stem cell transplant donor.

Methods of generating cell lines with a sequence variation or copy number variation of a gene of interest, methods of use thereof, and cell lines with a sequence variation or copy number variation of a gene of interest are provided.

The present invention provides fusion proteins that induce local immune tolerance. The fusion proteins comprise peptides derived the immunoregulatory proteins programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Also provided are nucleic acid constructs encoding said fusion proteins, cells comprising said nucleic acid constructs, and methods of transplanting said cells into a subject.

The present invention provides for novel methods for regulating and detecting the cytosine methylation status of DNA. The invention is based upon identification of a novel and surprising catalytic activity for the family of TET proteins, namely TET1, TET2, TET3, and CXXC4. The novel activity is related to the enzymes being capable of converting the cytosine nucleotide 5-methylcytosine into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine by hydroxylation.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a polymeric matrix or a gel containing functional enzymes capable of re-creating under culture conditions the cell microenvironment existing in vivo. The present invention also relates to devices for cell cultures comprising such compositions, in particular hydrogel and the use thereof to control the chemical microenvironment of a cell culture or mimic physiological or pathological conditions of the in vivo cells. The compositions and the devices described herein could be also used in vitro for evaluating the therapeutic effect of a compound on a determined cell line or on primary cells.

The present invention provides for novel methods for regulating and detecting the cytosine methylation status of DNA. The invention is based upon identification of a novel and surprising catalytic activity for the family of TET proteins, namely TET1, TET2, TEM3, and CXXC4. The novel activity is related to the enzymes being capable of converting the cytosine nucleotide 5-methylcytosine into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine by hydroxylation.

The present invention provides for novel methods for regulating and detecting the cytosine methylation status of DNA. The invention is based upon identification of a novel and surprising catalytic activity for the family of TET proteins, namely TET1, TET2, TET3, and CXXC4. The novel activity is related to the enzymes being capable of converting the cytosine nucleotide 5-methylcytosine into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine by hydroxylation.

The present disclosure provides methods of increasing proliferation of adult salivary stem cells, methods of protecting adult salivary stem cells and improving salivary gland function. The methods include contacting adult salivary stem cells in vivo, in vitro, or ex vivo with a therapeutically effective amount of at least one isolated monoterpene and subjecting the adult salivary stem cells to radiation treatment. Increasing proliferation of adult salivary stem cells can be carried out to provide for an increase in the number of adult salivary stem cells and improve salivary gland function in an individual undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. The methods also include treating an individual with dry eye with a therapeutically effective amount of at least one isolated monoterpene.