Disclosed herein are induced hepatocytes from a trophoblast stem cell, methods for inducing the cells, and compositions thereof. Also disclosed herein are methods of treating a disease or disorder (e.g., liver-associated) by utilizing an induced hepatocyte disclosed herein.

The invention relates to a method for activating and expanding NKT-like cells in vitro. The method according to the present invention utilizes nucleated somatic cells derived from allogeneic or heterologous subjects to activate and proliferate NKT-like cells of a subject in vitro, and can increase the overall number of the NKT-like cells, the expression of activation markers and the number of killing effector molecules.

Methods for production of platelets from pluripotent stem cells, such as human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are provided. These methods may be performed without forming embryoid bodies or clusters of pluripotent stem cells, and may be performed without the use of stromal inducer cells. Additionally, the yield and/or purity can be greater than has been reported for prior methods of producing platelets from pluripotent stem cells. Also provided are compositions and pharmaceutical preparations comprising platelets, preferably produced from pluripotent stem cells.

Methods of generating and expanding human hemangio-colony forming cells in vitro and methods of expanding and using such cells are disclosed. The methods permit the production of large numbers of hemangio-colony forming cells as well as derivative cells, such as hematopoietic and endothelial cells. The cells obtained by the methods disclosed may be used for a variety of research, clinical, and therapeutic applications.

A method for expanding a population of γδ T-cells is provided in which isolated activated Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) are cultured in a medium comprising transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) under conditions in which the production of effector γδ T-cells having therapeutic activity against malignant disease is favored. The use of TGF-β in the production of effector cells in particular Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells is also described and claimed.

The present disclosure relates to methods for modulating the level of proteins in a subject or in target cells by priming red blood cells with various agents or conditions that modulate the levels of proteins associated with red blood cells and administering the primed red blood cells to a subject. The disclosed methods represent a novel use of red blood cells primed to express a number of proteins, as cell therapies for numerous diseases or disorders.

The present invention is directed to a mammalian-avian chimeric model system comprising a fertilized avian egg comprising a chorioallantoic membrane (CAM); and multiple types of mammalian cells dispersed in a hydrogel. Further provided is a method for preparing the system and a method of using the same.

The invention provides compositions and methods useful for mobilizing populations of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells within a donor, as well as for determining whether samples of mobilized cells are suitable for release for ex vivo expansion and/or therapeutic use. In accordance with the compositions and methods described herein, mobilized hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells can be withdrawn from a donor and administered to a patient for the treatment of various stem cell disorders, including hematopoietic diseases, metabolic disorders, cancers, and autoimmune diseases, among others.

In order to induce aging while cutting the costs associated with adding cytokines at different aging stages, in a system for aging induction including a first culture chamber for perfusing, with a culture medium, a subject of aging-induction, the subject of aging-induction being derived from a living organism; a second culture chamber for perfusing, with a culture medium, a secretor that secretes a cytokine; and a control device for aging induction including a detection unit, a memory unit and a control unit, a protocol for aging induction defining a procedure of aging induction is stored, and in the control unit, an aging state of the subject of aging-induction is detected with a detection unit, and based on the protocol for aging induction, a flow rate at which the culture medium containing the cytokine secreted by the secretor is supplied to the subject of aging-induction is controlled according to the aging state of the subject of aging-induction.

Improved hybrid neurovascular spheroids and methods for making the same are provided. In some embodiments of a method for making a hybrid neurovascular spheroid, the method includes i) propagating cortical cells to form a cortical spheroid; ii) propagating endothelial cells to form an endothelial spheroid; iii) propagating mesenchymal stem cells to form a mesenchymal cell culture; and iv) combining the cortical spheroid, endothelial spheroid, and mesenchymal spheroid under conditions to form the hybrid neurovascular spheroid.