The present disclosure provides novel cell compositions engineered to express at least a chimeric antigen receptor and a survival factor. Methods of using such cell compositions are also described.

Compositions for generating a pancreatic beta-like cell population from a population of undifferentiated cells and methods of use thereof, are provided. The method is an 8 stage process interrupted by a priming step, and it includes; using a chemically defined protocol for the efficient generation of pancreatic progenitors (PPs); improved assembly PPs into 3D clusters; a priming step which uses a chemical/factor cocktail (PP-10C) to maintain 3D-PPs status and enhances their potential to differentiate into ? cells ;and a 3-step differentiation protocol using select chemical cocktails that efficiently converts PP-10C-treated 3D-PPs into functional ? cells.

The disclosed methods result in a population of functional ? cells which expresses pancreatic cell markers selected from the group of c-peptide, the transcription factors NKX6.1, PDX1, PAX6, NEUROD1 and are INS+, and which do not express substantial levels Glucagon (GCG).

The functional ? cells can be used to treat conditions such as diabetes.

The present invention relates to generation of functional beta cells from human pluripotent stem cell-derived endocrine progenitors. The present invention also relates to functional beta cells produced by said methods and uses of said beta cells.

Provided are compositions comprising polynucleotides encoding modified DGAT1 polypeptides. Also provided are recombinant DNA constructs, plants, plant cells, seed, and grain comprising the polynucleotides. Additionally, methods using the polynucleotides in plants to increase seed oil content are also provided herein.

The present disclosure relates to a three-dimensional (3D) artificial skin model, and specifically, to a 3D artificial skin model that perfectly mimics the ridge shape of the dermal-epidermal junction, and a method for producing the same. Normal skin tissue has wavy ridges formed at the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ), but the wavy ridges are known to flatten with aging. The artificial skin model of the present disclosure is a 3D artificial skin model that perfectly mimics the shape of the ridges at the dermal-epidermal junction. Since the artificial skin model mimics the structure and function of normal skin, it is expected to be widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields.

An inducer for reprogramming a T cell into an NK-like cell and an application of the inducer. The inducer comprises any one of or a combination of at least two of a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, or a histone methyltransferase EZH2 inhibitor. The inducer is used for inducing a decrease in methylation level in T cells, inhibiting histone deacetylation and histone methylation, and expressing NK cell receptors and cytokines, thereby achieving the purpose of in-vitro reprogramming of T cells into NK-like cells. The method is simple, high in efficiency, and short in cycle, and the prepared NK-like cells have obvious in-vitro killing effects, and have important significance in the field of cell immunotherapy.

Compositions and methods are described herein for inducing reprogramming of non-pluripotent cells across lineage and differentiation boundaries to generate endodermal progenitor cells and hepatocytes. Compositions and methods for expansion of endodermal progenitor cells without loss of phenotype are also described herein.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for inducing pluripotency in non-embryonic and/or somatic cells using exogenous Tb4, exogenous Sox2, and exogenous Oct4. Induced pluripotent stem cells can be can be simian or murine. The exogenous Tb4 can be phosphorylated. At least one of the exogenous Tb4, the exogenous Sox2, and the exogenous Oct4 can be coupled with a cell membrane penetrating moiety and/or a nuclear targeting moiety, allowing them to reach to the nucleus. In addition, the induced pluripotent stem cell maintains pluripotency over at least 100 passages.

The present invention provides a method of producing a multipotent stem cell, said method comprising culturing at least one fibroblast cell in the presence of an effective amount of at least one small molecule reprogramming factor(s) that induces the cell to de-differentiate into a multipotent stem cell, wherein the method excludes the use of reprogramming factor(s) that are not small molecules. The small molecule reprogramming factor(s) may include a G9a HMTase inhibitor(s) and/or a MEK inhibitor(s) optionally in combination with other small molecule reprogramming factor(s). The invention also includes methods of differentiating the multipotent stem cells, cells produced by the methods, assays using the cells and kits for use in the methods.

Compositions and methods are described herein for chemically inducing cells that express a single pluripotency transcription factor to change their differentiation state and become cardiac cells, cardiac progenitor cells, cardiomyocytes, or a combination thereof.