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.

A method of obtaining a pluripotent-like multipotent cell, including providing a cell of a first type which is not a pluripotent-like multipotent cell; contacting the cell of a first type with an agent capable of remodeling the chromatin and/or DNA of the cell; transiently increasing expression of at least one pluripotent gene regulator in the cell of a first type, to a level at which the at least one pluripotent gene regulator is capable of driving transformation of the cell of a first type into the pluripotent-like multipotent cell; and placing or maintaining the cell in a differentiation medium and maintaining intracellular levels of the at least one pluripotent gene regulator for a sufficient period of time to allow a stable pluripotent-like multipotent cell to be obtained; wherein the pluripotent-like multipotent cell so obtained does not exhibit teratoma formation in vivo.

The present invention recognizes that there exists a long felt need for reliable hair growth methods and compositions that do not suffer from side effects and limitations of current technologies, such as surgery using a subject's own hair and pharmaceutical compositions. A first aspect of the present invention is a method of making at least one three dimensional collection of cells capable of forming a functional hair follicle. A second aspect of the present invention is a product produced by the method of making at least one three dimensional collection of cells capable of forming a functional hair follicle of the present invention. A third aspect of the present invention is a method of making at least one functional hair follicle. A fourth aspect of the present invention is a product produced by the method of making at least one functional hair follicle of the present invention. A fifth aspect of the present invention is a method of hair growth in a subject using at least one three dimensional collection of cells capable of forming a functional hair follicle of the present invention. A sixth aspect of the present invention is a method of hair growth in a subject using at least one functional hair follicle of the present invention.

The slow kinetics and low efficiency of reprogramming methods to generate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) impose major limitations on their utility in biomedical applications. Here we describe a chemical approach that dramatically improves (>200 fold) the efficiency of iPSC generation from human fibroblasts, within seven days of treatment. This will provide a basis for developing safer, more efficient, non-viral methods for reprogramming human somatic cells.

The present invention relates to monolayer cardiac differentiation techniques utilizing defined conditions providing feeder-free monolayer culture systems, serum-based or serum free, and applicable to both healthy control and patient derived stem cells.

The present disclosure relates to a preparation of CD140a/PDGFRα positive cells that comprises oligodendrocyte progenitor cells co-expressing OLIG2 and CD140a/PDGFRα. The preparation of cells is derived from pluripotent cells that were derived from skin cells, fibroblasts, umbilical cord blood, peripheral blood, bone marrow, or other somatic cells. The cell preparation has an in vivo myelination efficiency that is equal to or greater than the in vivo myelination efficiency of a preparation of A2B5+/PSA-NCAM-sorted fetal human tissue derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Methods of making, isolating and using the disclosed cell preparation are also described.

The present invention relates to a production method of a systemic sclerosis disease model using keratinocytes and fibroblasts differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells derived from patients with systemic sclerosis, a systemic sclerosis disease model produced thereby, and a method for screening a therapeutic agent for systemic sclerosis using the same.

The systemic sclerosis disease model produced by the above production method can be effectively used for preventing or treating systemic sclerosis.

The slow kinetics and low efficiency of reprogramming methods to generate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) impose major limitations on their utility in biomedical applications. Here we describe a chemical approach that dramatically improves (>200 fold) the efficiency of iPSC generation from human fibroblasts, within seven days of treatment. This will provide a basis for developing safer, more efficient, non-viral methods for reprogramming human somatic cells.

The present invention provides for methods, compositions, and kits for producing an induced pluripotent stem cell from a non-pluripotent mammalian cell using a 3′-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1) activator or a compound that promotes glycolytic metabolism as well as other small molecules.

The present invention provides for methods, compositions, and kits for producing an induced pluripotent stem cell from a non-pluripotent mammalian cell using a 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1) activator or a compound that promotes glycolytic metabolism as well as other small molecules.