Certain relatively small cells present in the periphery blood of mammals can be activated to form pluripotent stem cell populations. These small cells are generally less than five micrometers in diameter and are CD45-positive, and are referred to herein as CD45.sup.+ cells or dormant tiny cells. Accordingly, provided are cell populations and compositions with enriched dormant tiny cells from blood samples and methods and compositions for activating these dormant tiny cells. Upon differentiation, the activated stem cells can be used for various therapeutic purposes.

The present invention provides a culture method capable of maturing an organoid through long-term culture, and suitable for producing a conformational organ. The culture method of the present invention is a method for culturing an organoid and/or cells constituting an organ immobilized in a chamber with a culture fluid perfused, and the culture fluid is perfused in such a manner as to generate a turbulent flow in the chamber.

The present invention relates to a cell structure including cells containing at least hepatocytes and vascular endothelial cells, and extracellular matrix component, wherein the extracellular matrix components are disposed between the cells, and a liver sinusoidal network is provided between the cells.

The invention relates to a method of producing an iPSC-derived Kupffer Cell (IKC). The method may comprise providing a macrophage precursor (preMcp) derived from an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC). The macrophage precursor (preM-cp) may be cultured in the presence of a hepatic cue, such as a combination of primary human hepatocyte conditioned media and Advanced DMEM, thereby obtaining the iPSC-derived Kupffer Cell. The iPSC-derived Kupffer Cell may display a biological property of a primary Kupffer cell, such as a primary adult human KC (pKC). The biological activity comprises expression of a macrophage marker such as CD11, CD14, CD68, CD163, CD32, CLEC-4F, ID1 and ID3.

Provided are a method for producing a cell tissue, including a culturing step of culturing cells capable of serving as a feeder inside opening pores and communicating pores of a porous film having a plurality of the opening pores provided on a surface thereof and the communicating pores communicating mutually adjacent opening pores with one another; and a porous film including a plurality of opening pores provided on a surface thereof and communicating pores communicating mutually adjacent opening pores with one another.

Disclosed are improved compositions and methods for decreasing blood glucagon levels. As disclosed herein, L-glutamine is a selective stimulator of α-cell proliferation generated when glucagon signaling is interrupted. Therefore, disclosed is a method for treating a subject with hyperglucagonemia, e.g., a subject with diabetes, that involves administering to the subject a composition comprising an L-glutamine inhibitor in an amount effective to decrease blood glucagon levels.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for preparing in vitro models of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and more particularly of liver steatosis and fibrosing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Media and methods for differentiating NK progenitor cells into NK cells are disclosed. The NK differentiation media comprises a pyrimidoindole compound such as UM171 or UM729.

Microfluidic devices for modeling three-dimensional tissue structures and methods for making and using the same are described herein.

The present invention is drawn to the generation of micropatterns of biomolecules and cells on standard laboratory materials through selective ablation of a physisorbed biomolecule with oxygen plasma. In certain embodiments, oxygen plasma is able to ablate selectively physisorbed layers of biomolecules (e.g., type-I collagen, fibronectin, laminin, and Matrigel) along complex non-linear paths which are difficult or impossible to pattern using alternative methods. In addition, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to the micropatterning of multiple cell types on curved surfaces, multiwell plates, and flat bottom flasks. The invention also features kits for use with the subject methods.