The present invention relates to a method for producing induced dopaminergic neuronal progenitors from adult cells using direct reprogramming, induced dopaminergic neuronal progenitors produced via the method and a use for same, wherein, as a result of having been directly reprogrammed from adult cells, the induced dopaminergic neuronal progenitors produced by means of the present invention can be transplanted inside a living body without the risk of oncogenicity, and have excellent proliferative capacity and dopaminergic neuronal differentiation potency, thus can be usefully utilized as a cell therapy product for Parkinson's disease.

The improved 4-5 day, optionally 3-5 day GMP-compliant in-vitro method enables the production of macrophages from monocytes that benefits from a shorter cell culture time, fewer interventions whilst maintaining the desired characteristics of the human macrophages. The present invention describes a method wherein the monocytes are cultured in medium comprising one or more growth actors to stimulate macrophages with a pro-regenerative phenotype. The method described herein is xeno-free, serum-free and GMP compliant. In addition, further disclosed are macrophages produced according to the present invention and the use of said macrophages in the treatment of liver diseases, such as liver cirrhosis.

The present invention relates to a composition for proliferating a T cells, containing a fusion protein dimer comprising IL-2 protein or a variant thereof and CD80 protein or a fragment thereof, and to a method for culturing T cells using same. The T cells cultured according to the present invention increase the proliferation and activity of T cells even without using CD3/CD28 antibody-bound magnetic beads and proliferate T cells by culturing a patient's own peripheral blood mononuclear cells and are not likely to cause side effects in the human body, and thus will be widely used as a novel T cell therapeutic agent. Furthermore, in the case of CD8+ T cells cultured as described above, the activity thereof increases, and thus, the CD8+ T cells can be used as a more effective therapeutic agent.

As disclosed herein, SIRPα is integral to immuno-evasion by many different cancer types as well as cancer resistance to therapies, and reducing SIRPα levels on can bolster antigen acquisition, processing, and presentation, decrease TME immunosuppression and thereby promote tumor-specific T cell activation to eliminate tumors and generate an adaptive immune response consisting of memory T cells, circulating antibodies, and plasma cells, all of which may be specific for neo-antigens in the original cancer. Therefore, disclosed are activated SIRPα.sup.low macrophages that are useful for treating cancers.

The invention described herein is directed to compositions and methods for inducing red blood cell (RBC) differentiation. Additionally, provided herein are methods of treating a subject in need thereof by administering the induced RBC described herein.

Provided herein are methods for obtaining populations of reprogrammed MO-homeostatic tolerogenic microglial cells. The methods include providing an initial population of monocytes, e.g., peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC), from a subject, and reprogramming the cells by maintaining the PBMC in culture ex vivo in the presence of a sufficient amount of transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) and interferon-gamma (IFNγ) for a time and under conditions sufficient for the cells to become M0-homeostatic tolerogenic microglia. Also provided are methods of use of these cells, e.g., for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases associated with inflammation, e.g., Alzheimer's Disease (AD); Multiple Sclerosis (MS), e.g., progressive MS; and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

This invention generally relates to a novel RNA composition and its production method useful for generating and expanding induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells; iPSC) as well as adult stem cells (ASC). The RNA composition so defined can be used for producing not only non-transgenic but also tumor-free iPS cells. The defined RNA composition contans at least two types of different RNA constructs; one is “miR-302 precursor RNA (pre-miR-302)” and the other is “RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp)” mRNA. Both of pre-miR-302 and RdRp mRNA contain highly structured RNA comformations, such as hairpin and stem-loop structures. To produce highly structured RNAs, a novel PCR-IVT methodology has been developed and used with a specially designed RNA polymerase-helicase mixture activity.

Described herein are methods and compositions related to generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Improved techniques for establishing highly efficient, reproducible reprogramming using non-integrating episomal plasmid vectors. Using the described reprogramming protocol, one is able to consistently reprogram non-T cells with close to 100% success from non-T cell or non-B cell sources. Further advantages include use of a defined reprogramming media E7 and using defined clinically compatible substrate recombinant human L-521. Generation of iPSCs from these blood cell sources allows for recapitulation of the entire genomic repertoire, preservation of genomic fidelity and enhanced genomic stability.

There is provided inter alia according to the invention an ex vivo method of obtaining tolerogenic antigen presenting cells (APCs) that have the capability to induce tolerance in the immune system to an antigen, the method comprising (a) isolating monocytes from a sample obtained from a mammal; and (b) culturing the isolated monocytes in a cell culture to induce differentiation of the monocytes into antigen presenting cells having a tolerogenic phenotype, wherein the cell culture comprises (i) retinoic acid and TGFbeta, (ii) retinoic acid, TGFbeta and an AhR agonist or (iii) retinoic acid and an AhR agonist.

Provided are a preparation method of trophoblasts with limited generations, a culture method of SNK cells and a method for treating tumor. The preparation method of trophoblasts includes the following steps: ligating a TAX2 gene to a lentiviral expression vector, followed by transferring into competent cells to obtain a lentivirus containing the TAX2 gene; infecting PBMCs with the lentivirus containing the TAX2 gene and culturing, and collecting CD3-cells; ligating a 41BBL-MICA fusion gene to the lentiviral expression vector, followed by transferring into the competent cells to obtain a lentivirus containing the 41BBL-MICA fusion gene; and mixing the CD3-cells with the lentivirus containing the 41BBL-MICA fusion gene and culturing to obtain the trophoblasts with limited generations.