Provided are a novel compound having CDK8 and/or CDK19 inhibitory activity, and a production method for Tregs. The treatment of T cells with a CDK8 and/or CDK19 inhibitor induces Foxp3 in the T cells. Foxp3.sup.+ T cells can be induced by treating Foxp3.sup.− T cells with the CDK8 and/or CDK19 inhibitor in vitro. Thus, Tregs can be induced.

In the various aspects and embodiments, this disclosure provides genetic, pharmacological, and mechanical stimuli for transitioning endothelial cells to hemogenic endothelial (HE) cells, and for transitioning HE cells to HSCs, including HSCs that comprise a significant level of LT-HSCs. The disclosure further provides methods for expanding HSCs using the genetic, pharmacological, and mechanical stimuli.

The present invention relates to, inter alia, an engineered cell (e.g., iPSC, IPS-derived NK, or NK cell) comprising a disrupted B2M gene and an inserted polynucleotide encoding one or more of SERPINB9, a fusion of IL15 and IL15Rα, and/or HLA-E. The engineered cell can further comprise a disrupted CIITA gene and an inserted polynucleotide encoding a CAR, wherein the CAR can be an anti-BCMA CAR or an anti-CD30 CAR. The engineered cell may further comprise a disrupted ADAM17 gene, a disrupted FAS gene, a disrupted CISH gene, and/or a disrupted REGNASE-1 gene. Methods for producing the engineered cells are also provided, and therapeutic uses of the engineered cells are also described. Guide RNA sequences targeting described target sequences are also described.

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.

Provided herein are methods of producing natural killer (NK) cells using a three-stage expansion and differentiation method with media comprising stem cell mobilizing factors. Also provided herein are methods of suppressing tumor cell proliferation using the NK cells and the NK cell populations produced by the three-stage methods described herein, as well as methods of treating individuals having cancer or a viral infection, comprising administering the NK ce3lls and the NK cell populations produced by the three-stage methods described herein to an individual having the cancer or viral infection.

Provided are methods and compositions for obtaining functionally enhanced derivative effector cells obtained from directed differentiation of genomically engineered iPSCs. The derivative cells provided herein have stable and functional genome editing that delivers improved or enhanced therapeutic effects. Also provided are therapeutic compositions and the use thereof comprising the functionally enhanced derivative effector cells alone, or with antibodies or checkpoint inhibitors or additional cells in combination therapies.

The present disclosure relates to populations of small pluripotent stem cells derived from peripheral blood, such as human peripheral blood. In some aspects, these small pluripotent stem cells are smaller than known stem cells and express a range of embryonic, hematopoietic, or mesenchymal stem cell markers. Also disclosed herein are methods of isolation and cryopreservation of these populations of small pluripotent stem cells. These small pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated in a wide range of cell types, which can be used in various applications such as the study of cell activity or for treatment of diseases and personalized medicine.

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.

Disclosed herein are CAR-T cells engineered to express mutant PGC-1α, wildtype NT-PGC-1α, or mutant NT-PGC-1α to enhance or prevent degradation of metabolic fitness. Also disclosed herein is a method for enhancing metabolic fitness of a CAR-T cell by transducing the CAR-T cell with a vector encoding a mutant PGC-1α, wildtype NT-PGC-1α, or mutant NT-PGC-1α. Also disclosed is a method for producing CAR-T cells that involves transducing activated T cells with a viral vector encoding a mutant PGC-1α, wildtype NT-PGC-1α, or mutant NT-PGC-1α polypeptide.

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.