The present invention relates generally to methods and compositions useful for therapeutic vascular tissue engineering. In particular, the present invention provides methods for generating substantially pure populations of vasculogenic cells from human mesenchymal progenitors, and methods and compositions for clinical applications in the field of regenerative medicine.

Provided herein are methods for directing differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into a three-dimensional multilayered skin composition comprising an epidermal layer, a dermal layer, and a plurality of cells capable of forming a functional hair follicle. Also provided herein are three-dimensional, multilayered engineered skin compositions and methods of using the same for drug screening, for screening compounds for effects on hair growth, and for other applications.

Provided herein are cells and methods for reprogramming iPS cells from a supercentenarian and their differentiated derivatives having differences from non-supercentenarian iPS derived cells that contribute to disease resistance and longevity. Additionally, provided herein are methods for treatment and prevention of age related diseases by administration of therapeutic sciPS derived cells or cell derived reagents. Also provided herein, are methods for identifying reagents for treatment of age related diseases using sciPS cell-based assays.

A composition for induction of a pluripotent stem cell includes a microRNA and a combination of small-molecule compounds. The combination of small-molecule compounds includes a histone deacetylase inhibitor, a mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor, a glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibitor, a transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGF-βR1) inhibitor, an inhibitor of histone demethylase.

Differentiation of a stem cell involves arranging the stem cell on a scaffold having an ordered array of magnetic one-dimensional nanostructures and culturing the stem cell while applying a magnetic field having a frequency to the ordered array of magnetic one-dimensional nanostructures to differentiate the stem cell.

The invention concerns methods for propagating mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), and in particular adipose derived stem cells, comprising incubating cells isolated from a body tissue with at least one TNF superfamily ligand, and at least one apoptosis inhibitory agent. The cells can be used for transplantation into subjects in need thereof or be induced to differentiate into various cell types that can be used in transplantation.

Provided herein are methods for directing differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into a three-dimensional multilayered skin composition comprising an epidermal layer, a dermal layer, and a plurality of cells capable of forming a functional hair follicle. Also provided herein are three-dimensional, multilayered engineered skin compositions and methods of using the same for drug screening, for screening compounds for effects on hair growth, and for other applications.

The invention provides compositions comprising a ribonucleotide or ribonucleotides or a deoxyribonucleotide or deoxyribonucleotides encoding at least two cell fate determinants (CFD) selected from the group consisting of PBX2, ACTN2, POU2F1, HAND1, TRIM24, GATA4, PBX1, ZBTB39, HAND2, IKZF4, NROB2, NACA2, SMYD1, JUP, NEUROD1, CKMT2, TSHZ2, MITF, MYOCD, and PPARGC1B. The compositions are useful in the treatment of cardiac disorders and in reprogramming a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) to an autologous induced cardiomyocyte (iCM).

A coating agent for promoting osteoblast differentiation and/or adipocyte differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, the coating agent comprising a polyrotaxane represented by Formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, m is 1 to 2000, and n is 10 to 500,

##STR00002##

is a cyclodextrin in which at least one hydroxyl group is modified with a group represented by XY, X is a divalent organic group, and Y is a hydroxyl group or a sulfo group.

Provided are a culture scaffold for promoting stem cell differentiation comprising a multilayer graphene film, a method of regulating growth and differentiation of a stem cell using the culture scaffold, and a method of preparing the culture scaffold, where the culture scaffold is capable of promoting the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells as a result of laminating a graphene film without comprising an additional substance, and it may be variously applicable to application fields of stem cells in/outside the body.