An agent capable of promoting proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells is disclosed which comprises a growth and differentiation factor-9 (GDF9) protein comprising a modified GDF9 polypeptide monomer which includes at least one amino acid substitution that enhances binding to and/or activation of activin-like kinase 4 and/or 5 receptor (ALK4/5). The agent is preferably provided in a mature dimeric form (eg comprising two monomers of the same modified GDF9 polypeptide monomer) and/or in a pro/mature complex form. The agent may be suitable for, inter alia, promoting oocyte maturation in vitro for use in assisted reproductive technologies.

Disclosed are methods for preparing retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). More particularly, it represents an automated method that combines in a sequential manner three differentiating agents to direct the differentiation of human PSCs into RPE cells.

The present invention provides a method for producing a retinal progenitor cell, including (1) a first step of subjecting pluripotent stem cells to floating culture in a serum-free medium to form an aggregate of pluripotent stem cells, and (2) a second step of subjecting the aggregate formed in step (1) to floating culture in a serum-free medium or serum-containing medium each being free of a substance acting on the Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway but containing a substance acting on the BMP signal transduction pathway, thereby obtaining an aggregate containing retinal progenitor cells.

A method is provided for producing a live cartilaginous material useful for implantation into a patient. A method of treating a patient comprising implanting a cartilaginous material prepared according to the provided method in an anatomical site in a patient also is provided.

The present invention relates to a cryopreserved in vitro cell culture comprising human pancreatic progenitor cells that co-express pancreatic-duodenal homeobox factor-1 (PDX1) and NK6 homeobox 1 (NKX6.1) and are chromogranin negative. The present invention also relates to a method for cryopreserving an in vitro population of human pancreatic progenitor cells that co-express PDX1 and NKX6.1 and are chromogranin negative.

Provided herein are methods of producing β cells and precursors thereof utilizing a Wnt signaling inhibitor or PKC activator, or both. Also provided herein are in vitro cultures comprising said cells, methods of treating a subject with a disease characterized by high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period of time by administering said cells, and devices for encapsulating said cells.

Provided herein are methods of producing β cells and precursors thereof utilizing a Wnt signaling inhibitor or PKC activator, or both. Also provided herein are in vitro cultures comprising said cells, methods of treating a subject with a disease characterized by high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period of time by administering said cells, and devices for encapsulating said cells.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a culture medium containing exosomes released by umbilical cord blood stem cells. The preparation method is based on culturing the umbilical cord blood stem cells in a serum-free medium supplemented with GDF-11, EGF, FGF2, TFG-β1, and/or VEGF. The culture medium produced by treating umbilical cord blood stem cells with a serum-free medium supplemented with 5 types of growth factors and the exosomes isolated from the culture medium has a higher total protein content and extracellular matrix protein content, when compared to a culture medium produced by culturing umbilical cord blood stem cells in a serum-free medium to which the growth factor is not added. In addition, exosomes released by umbilical cord blood stem cells cultured in a serum-free medium containing five growth factors have a high concentration, a small size, and an even distribution.

The umbilical cord blood stem cell culture medium prepared according to the present invention contains a high content of high-potency exosomes and has a high skin regeneration and/or anti-inflammatory effect, so it can be used in a cosmetic composition for skin application requiring skin penetration and a pharmaceutical composition for wound treatment.

The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides methods to produce a population of cells, wherein greater than 10% of the cells in the population express markers characteristic of single hormonal pancreatic beta cells.

The present invention relates to a composition and method for assisted reproductive technology in mammals. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for in vivo maturation of an immature cumulus oocyte complex (COC), thereby enhancing the embryology outcome.