Embodiments of the present disclosure concern systems, methods, and compositions for both in vitro and in vivo models of metastases, such as bone metastases. In specific embodiments, there is a system comprising a source of bone cells, such as osteoblasts, and a source of cancer cells, wherein the bone cells and cancer cells are configured in a chamber or on a chick chorioallantoic membrane such that interaction between the cells is determined. In specific embodiments, the bone cells are comprised in an organoid comprising both mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblasts (although a naturally derived bone scaffold may be employed), and the cancer cells are comprised in an organoid comprising mesenchymal stem cells and the cancer cells.

The present invention relates to a method for in vitro expansion of erythroid cells. The method includes subjecting erythroid cells to 3-dimensional packed cell culture using a porous structure. The use of the composition according to the present invention enables in vitro expansion of erythroid cells in the most efficient manner.

A 3D decellularized bone scaffold seeded with cancer cells, such as prostate cancer cells or Ewing's sarcoma is provided. The three-dimensional includes Ewing's sarcoma (ES) tumor cells; and an engineered human bone scaffold. The engineered human bone scaffold further includes osteoblasts that secrete substance of the human bone, and osteoclasts that absorb bone tissue during growth and healing. The engineered human bone scaffold includes the tissue engineered three-dimensional model which recapitulates the osteolytic process. The engineered human bone scaffold is engineered by co-culturing of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The osteoblast is produced by cell differentiation process from mesenchymal stem cells. The osteoclast is produced by cell differentiation from human monocytes, wherein the human monocytes are isolated from buffy coats. The scaffold can be used with cancer cell lines to identify therapeutic targets to slow, stop, and reverse tumor growth and progression as well as to predict the efficacy of potential therapeutics.

A method of generating a population of cells useful for treating a nerve disease or disorder in a subject, the method comprising up-regulating a level of at least one exogenous miRNA in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and/or down-regulating a level of at least one miRNA using a polynucleotide agent that hybridizes to the miRNA, thereby generating the population of cells useful for treating the nerve disease or disorder. Isolated populations of cells with an astrocytic phenotype generated thereby and uses thereof are also provided.

The present application relates to probiotic compositions, e.g., comprising at least one bacterial strain selected from: Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, KE99, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, optionally wherein the at least one bacterial strain is either alive or sonicated.

A 3D in vitro bi-phasic cartilage-bone organoid includes a layer of an artificial cartilage tissue, and a layer of an artificial bone tissue comprising a structure-giving scaffold and a bone marrow structure. The layer of the artificial cartilage tissue contacts at least one surface of the layer of the artificial bone tissue.

The present invention relates to a culture support for cultivating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and/or hematopoietic progenitors (HPs), comprising a calcium biomaterial, osteoclasts, endothelial cells and mesenchymatous stem cells (MSCs) and/or osteoblasts and/or adipocytes. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing such a culture support, and an in vitro HSC and/or HP cultivation method. The use of such a culture support for studying cellular mechanisms involved in hematopoiesis and/or differentiation of HSC/HPs and/or for studying the efficacy and/or the toxicity of a medicament candidate is also described.

The present invention can be used for actual implantation surgery without a scaffold. The present invention provides a synthetic tissue or complex which can be produced by culture and has a high level of differentiation ability. The present invention also provides a therapy and medicament for repairing and/or regenerating tissue using replacement and covering. By culturing cells under specific culture conditions such that medium contains an extracellular matrix synthesis promoting agent, the cells are organized and are easily detached from a culture dish. The present invention was achieved by finding such a phenomenon. In addition, the self contraction of the tissue can be regulated by culturing the tissue in a suspended manner. Therefore, it is possible to regulate the three-dimensional shape of the tissue. The present invention also provides a method for producing an implantable synthetic tissue which does not require a plurality of monolayer cell sheets assembled to form a three-dimensionally structured synthetic tissue. The present invention is characterized by richness in adhesion molecules, nonnecessity of additional fixation at an implantation site, and good biological integration.

Disclosed herein are various bioreactor devices and systems for growing cellular material, and related methods of growing cellular material. In some cases, a system can include a well plate having a plurality of wells and a bioreactor situated in each well of the well plate. In some cases, a bioreactor can include an inner body which divides the bioreactor into several distinct chambers and facilitates the growth of a multi-tissue sample in the bioreactor. In some cases, a system can include a mechanical actuator situated to mechanically stress tissues grown in a bioreactor.

Human progenitor T cells that are able to successfully engraft a murine thymus and differentiate into mature human T and NK cells are described. The human progenitor T cells have the phenotype CD34+CD7+CD 1aCD5 or CD34+CD7+CD1aCD5+ and are derived from human hematopoietic stem cells, embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells by coculture with cells expressing a Notch receptor ligand (OP9-DL1 or OP9-DL4). Such cells are useful in a variety of applications including immune reconstitution, the treatment of immunodeficiencies and as carriers for genes used in gene therapy.