The invention relates to differentiation methods for progenitor cells, e.g. mammalian epithelial stem cells, differentiation media for use in said methods, organoids and cells obtainable by said methods and uses, including therapeutic uses, thereof.

The present invention provides for identification and use of small molecules to induce pluripotency in mammalian cells as well as other methods of inducing pluripotency.

The present invention provides the new use of composition comprising at least one inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) for increasing migration and homing of haematopoetic progenitor cells in stem cell transplanted recipients, wherein said haematopoetic stem and/or progenitor cells had been treated in vitro with an engraftment enhancing compound, specifically with a prostacyclin analogue and a cAMP enhancer before transplantation.

The present invention provides a method with which it is possible to directly induce nervous system cells efficiently and in a short amount of time. Because the method is easy to scale up and is not affected by the characteristics or background of the somatic cells used as material, the method enables the stable supply of nervous system cells. The nervous system cells obtained by the method are useful in various fields of research and healthcare.

This invention relates to the treatment of cancer in an individual by administration of a population of modified T cells that express a recombinant cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) or a fragment thereof and an antigen receptor which binds specifically to cancer cells in the individual. Populations of modified T cells and methods of producing populations of modified T cells are provided, along with pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment

Provided is a method for freezing a cell aggregate including neural cells. provided is a method for freezing a cell aggregate including neural cells and having a three-dimensional structure, which comprises following steps (1) and (2): (1) contacting a cell aggregate including neural cells and having a three-dimensional structure with a preservation solution at 0° C. to 30° C. prior to freezing to prepare a preservation solution-soaked cell aggregate; and (2) cooling the preservation solution-soaked cell aggregate obtained in step (1) from a temperature at least about 5° C. higher than the freezing point of the preservation solution to a temperature about 5° C. lower than the freezing point at an average cooling speed of 2 to 7° C./min to freeze the cell aggregate.

Maturation signals provided via cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/Exchange proteins activated by cAMP (Epac) signaling during in vitro generation of blood cells from reprogrammed cells or pluripotent stem cells achieve superior function of hematopoietic cells differentiated from stem cells. The cAMP/Epac signaling enables an increased efficiency of production of precursor to blood and to blood cells. These generated blood cells can be utilized for therapeutics, treatments, disease prevention, drug discovery, personalized medicine, regenerative medicine, cell and tissue generation, universal donor banks and related methods and compositions.

Provided is a method for freezing a cell aggregate including neural cells. Provided is a method for freezing a cell aggregate including neural cells and having a three-dimensional structure, which comprises following steps (1) and (2): (1) soaking the cell aggregate including neural cells in a cryopreservation solution at 0° C. to 30° C. prior to freezing to prepare a cryopreservation solution-soaked cell aggregate; and (2) freezing the cell aggregate including neural cells in vapor phase of a liquid nitrogen container having a temperature of −150° C. or less.

Disclosed is a spheroid liver organoid comprising hepatic lineage cells such as human hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. Also provided are methods of using spheroid liver organoids for applications related to drug screening and toxicity screening. In particular, spheroid liver organoids are useful for high-throughput screens to identify compounds having efficacy for treating liver disease.

The invention provides tissue culture system for primary cells (e.g. normal mammalian primary epithelial progenitors). This system includes: a) a serum-free, chemically defined cell culture media; and, b) methods for isolation and in vitro long-term propagation of primary cells (e.g. primary epithelial cells). Primary cells so isolated and cultured can be kept undifferentiated and proliferate for many weeks (>15 weeks) or population doubling (>35 PD) without senescence, or any detectable genetic alterations. Upon changing media/culture conditions, these cells can be induced to differentiate. The invention also provides methods to transform normal primary cells so cultured into “cancer stem cells.” The genetically defined cancer stem cell tumor model mimics the behavior of the disease closely, e.g., the cells are invasive, hormone responsive and metastatic when injected into mice. The tumor cells express genes that are specific to cancer stem cells identified in patient samples.