There are provided to a Rag-2 (Recombination activating gene 2) gene targeting vector, a method for producing SCID-like miniature pigs introduced with the vector, and a use thereof.

The present invention relates to a composition for inducing dedifferentiation form somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSs) and method of inducing dedifferentiation using same, wherein the composition for inducing dedifferentiation and the method of inducing dedifferentiation increases the efficiency of dedifferentiation from somatic cells to iPSs by stimulating CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2), which is a receptor on human somatic ells, and thus may be effectively used for inducing the dedifferentiation to iPSs.

Compositions are provided that contain biologically active components of amniotic fluid including growth factors and other proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and metabolites. The compositions containing biologically active components of amniotic fluid can be useful for a range of therapeutic treatments including joint and soft tissue repair, regulation of skin condition, and for use in organ preservation, such as for use in organ transplant procedures. Advantages of the compositions include that they can be reproducibly produced, without the inherent variability of amniotic fluid from individual donors, and that they are free of fetal waste.

An isolated pluripotent trophoblast stem (TS) cell preparation, and methods of preparing the cell preparation and a disease model for a pregnancy related disorder are provided. The cell preparation includes cells that are capable of indefinite proliferation in vitro in an undifferentiated state and capable of differentiation into cells of the trophoblast lineage in vitro or in vivo.

Methods of reducing T cell activation including co-culturing with T cells, term amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells (TAF-MSCs) isolated from term human amniotic fluid. Other aspects relate to methods of inhibiting macrophage polarization toward the M1 pro-inflammatory phenotype including co-culturing with macrophages TAF-MSCs isolated from term human amniotic fluid. Other aspects relate to methods of inhibiting cytokine secretion from activated Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) including co-culturing with the PBMC tissue-typed TAF-MSCs isolated from human amniotic fluid. Other aspects relate to methods of differentiating TAF-MSC including: obtaining TAF-MSC cells from term amniotic fluid, plating the TAF-MSC cells in limiting dilution to obtain expanded colonies from single cells, and transferring the cells to a differentiation media that contains one or more factor to differentiate the TAF-MSC cells.

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.

Disclosed herein are precursory regulatory cytotrophoblast cells produced in vitro and compositions thereof. Disclosed herein are isolated populations of precursory regulatory cytotrophoblast cells, where the cells are produced in vitro. Disclosed herein are genetically engineered cells. Also disclosed herein are methods of treating a disorder or condition by utilizing the cells disclosed herein.

Provided are a method of preparing a stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cell conditioned medium, the method including: differentiating stem cells to stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cells by culturing the stem cells in a differentiation medium containing ascorbic acid and hydrocortisone; producing a culture of stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cells by culturing the differentiated stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cells in a medium; and recovering the stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cell conditioned medium from the culture of the stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cells, a stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cell conditioned medium prepared by the method, and a method of producing a protein from stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cells, the method including the method of preparing the stem cell-derived epidermal progenitor cell conditioned medium.

The present invention relates to a composition for enhancing reprogramming efficiency from somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells, comprising an mTOR activator, and a method for enhancing reprogramming efficiency by using same. In the method, reprogramming factors including OCT4, SOX2, c-Myc, and KLF4 are transduced into somatic cells, followed by treatment with an mTOR activator, thereby remarkably increasing reprogramming efficiency into induced pluripotent stem cells. Therefore, the composition and method can be used for effectively inducing the reprograming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells.

Disclosed herein are human hepatocytes for example isolated human hepatic progenitor cells, artificial tissue or organ thereof, and kits or compositions thereof. Also disclosed herein are various methods of using a human hepatocyte disclosed herein.