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.

The present invention relates to a method of cryopreserving a mesenchymal stem cell population, the method comprising: cultivating umbilical cord tissue in a culture medium comprising DMEM (Dulbecco's modified eagle medium), F12 (Ham's F12 Medium), M171 (Medium 171) and FBS (Fetal Bovine Serum) to provide outgrowth of mesenchymal stem cells present in the amniotic membrane of the umbilical cord; isolating the mesenchymal stem cell population by collecting the outgrown mesenchymal stem cells; and placing the isolated mesenchymal stem cell population in cryopreserved storage. The invention also relates to a cryopreserved mesenchymal stem population of the amniotic membrane of the umbilical cord.

The present invention relates to an epithelial stem/progenitor cell population isolated from the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord, the epithelial stem/progenitor cell population having the capacity to differentiate in multiple cell types. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising such an epithelial stem/progenitor cell population or a cellular extract thereof.

Provided herein are methods of using adherent placental stem cells and placental stem cell populations, and methods of culturing, proliferating and expanding the same. Also provided herein are methods of differentiating the placental stem cells. Further provided herein are methods of using the placental stem cells to formulate implantable or injectable compositions suitable for administration to a subject. Still further provided herein are provides methods for treating bone defects with stem cells and compositions comprising stem cells.

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 cells, and thus may be effectively used for inducing the dedifferentiation to iPSs.

The present invention is encompassed in the field of biomedicine and more specifically tissue engineering. It relates specifically to an in vitro method for preparing an artificial tissue, to the artificial tissue obtainable by said method and to the use of this artificial tissue to partially or completely increase, restore or replace the functional activity of a damaged tissue or organ.

The present invention relates to a method for isolating stem/progenitor cells from the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord, wherein the method comprises separating the amniotic membrane from the other components of the umbilical cord in vitro, culturing the amniotic membrane tissue under conditions allowing cell proliferation, and isolating the stem/progenitor cells from the tissue cultures. The isolated stem cell cells can have embryonic stem cell-like properties and can be used for various therapeutic purposes. In one embodiment, the invention relates to the isolation and cultivation of stem cells such as epithelial and/or mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells under conditions allowing the cells to undergo mitotic expansion. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a method for the differentiation of the isolated stem/progenitor cells into epithelial and/or mesenchymal cells.

Provided herein are methods of differentiating stem cells via modulating miR-124, and the differentiated cells thereby. Also provided herein are methods for the treatment of diseases using the differentiated cells.

The present disclosure provides a method for treating an inflammatory neurological disease comprising administering a population of cells enriched for STRO-1.sup.+ cells and/or progeny thereof and/or soluble factors derived therefrom.

The present invention relates to a method of cultivating an epithelial stem/progenitor cell population of the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord, the epithelial stem/progenitor cell population having the capacity to differentiate in multiple cell types.