Provided herein are methods for the efficient in vitro differentiation of somatic cell-derived pluripotent stem cells to hematopoietic precursor cells, and the further differentiation of the hematopoietic precursor cells into immune cells of various myeloid or lymphoid lineages, particularly T cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells. The pluripotent cells may be maintained and differentiated under defined conditions; thus, the use of mouse feeder cells or serum is not required in certain embodiments for the differentiation of the hematopoietic precursor cells.

The present invention relates to a method for isolating umbilical cord-derived stem cells, and more specifically to a method for isolating a significantly large number of mesenchymal stem cells from the umbilical cord having a specified size. The method of the present invention has a great advantage in that since stem cells can be isolated from an umbilical cord tissue without enzymatic treatment, stress applied to the cells can be significantly suppressed. In addition, stem cells obtained by the method of the present invention have superior proliferative capacity compared to stem cells obtained by conventional isolation methods.

The present invention relates to a method of cultivating mammalian cells. This method comprises cultivating the mammalian cells on a feeder layer, wherein the feeder layer comprises a stem/progenitor cell population isolated from the amniotic membrane of the umbilical cord

The present disclosure generally regards methods and compositions for providing multi-lineage hematopoietic precursor cells from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). The PSCs comprise an expression construct encoding an ETS/ERG gene, GATA2 and HOXA9. Also provided are methods for providing hematopoietic stem cells capable of long-term engraftment in mammals, such as humans. Further provided are therapeutic compositions including the provided hematopoietic stem cells and precursors of hematopoietic cells, and methods of using such for the treatment of subjects.

A method of generating a population of cells useful for treating a brain disorder in a subject is disclosed. The method comprises contacting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with at least one exogenous miRNA having a nucleic acid sequence at least 90% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 15-19 and 27-35, thereby generating a population of cells and/or generating neurotrophic factors that may provide important signals to damaged tissues or locally residing stem cells. MSCs differentiated by miRs may also secrete miRs and deliver them to adjacent cells and therefore provide important signals to neighboring endogenous normal or malignant cells.

The invention provides a lipid bilayer mimicking the lipid composition of the placenta. The lipid composition provides an in vitro placenta model using the lipid composition of the placental cell membrane.

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.

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

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.

The present invention relates to mesenchymal stromal cells and to an advantageous method for their isolation from umbilical cord. In particular, the cells are obtainable by a method comprising isolating the stromal Wharton's Jelly or a fraction thereof from an umbilical cord and subjecting the stromal Wharton's Jelly or fraction thereof to enzymatic treatment, thereby releasing at least one cell from the stromal Wharton's Jelly or fraction thereof. Preferably, cultivation of cells occurs under conditions allowing the expansion of the cell population. The cell population according to the present invention has proliferative properties and is of industrial interest for a variety of purposes.