Compositions and methods for generating melanocytes through direct reprogramming are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of use of such compositions for the treatment of vitiligo and other hypopigmentation disorders. In accordance with the present invention, a method for producing melanocytes suitable for use in human patients is provided. An exemplary method comprises providing cells capable of transdifferentiation into melanocytes, culturing said cells in a chemically defined culture medium, introducing at least two of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), SRY-related HMG-box (SOX10) transcription factor and paired box-3 (PAX-3) transcription factor and paired box-3 (PAX-3) transcription factor, or nucleic acids encoding said transcription factors into said cells, wherein expression of said factors induces the cells to transdifferentiae into melanocytes expressing melanocyte markers TYR, DCT, S-100 and Melan-A.

The present invention relates to the field of biological technology and relates to a method for growing cells, specifically relating to a 3D suspension method for growing autologous melanocyte by inducing iPS cells, and to an application thereof. Said method of the present invention detaches the iPS cells into single cells and uses 3D culture plates to grow embryoid bodies, which all have uniform shapes and sizes. The early term induction process 14 days before the differentiation replaces 2D planar monolayer cultivation with 3D suspension cultivation, thereby lowering the rate of epithelioid cell occurrences during the differentiation process, enhancing the differentiation efficiency of melanocytes, optimizing the pre-differentiation embryoid body selection, single cell detachment time, and culture medium components, and improving the proliferation state of melanocyte. The melanocyte obtained by means of the present invention has the characteristics of being highly similar to normal melanocyte in vitro and exhibits features markedly superior to normal melanocyte during in vivo transplantation.

Compositions and methods for generating melanocytes through direct reprogramming are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of use of such compositions for the treatment of vitiligo and other hypopigmentation disorders. In accordance with the present invention, a method for producing melanocytes suitable for use in human patients is provided. An exemplary method comprises providing cells capable of transdifferentiation into melanocytes, culturing said cells in a chemically defined culture medium, introducing at least two of microphthalmia-associated transcriptiokn factor (MITF), SRY-related HMG-box (SOX10) transcription factor and paired box-3 (PAX-3) transcription factor and paired box-3 (PAX-3) transcription factor, or nucleic acids encoding said transcription factors into said cells, wherein expression of said factors induces the cells to transdifferentiae into melanocytes expressing melanocyte markers TYR, DCT, S-100 and Melan-A.

The present disclosure provides compositions, kits, and methods for promoting in vitro maturation of cells. The present disclosure also provides methods of screening compounds that are suitable for promoting in vitro maturation of cells.

Hair follicle bulge region/LLP region CD34(+) MeSCs can be isolated from mammalian skin bearing hair follicles. These cells are multipotent and retain the ability to differentiate into cells of neural crest lineage, including glia-like cells that express the glial marker Gfap, and are able to express myelin basic protein, and to remyelinate naked (unmyelinated or demyelinated) neuronal processes with a functional, dense myelin sheath. These cells of neural crest lineage can be used to produce a dense myelin sheath on neurons which lack myelin due to genetic defect, trauma, toxin, infection, or disease process. Therefore, embodiments of the invention provide methods for preparing such cells, the cells themselves and compositions containing the cells, as well as methods for using the cells.