A method of direct transdifferentiation of somatic cells into other somatic cells may be convenient and still have good reproducibility, excellent production efficiency, and short performed time. Methods for direct transdifferentiation of somatic cells into other somatic cells may include: (a) introducing a GLIS family gene, a mutated GLIS family gene or a gene product thereof into somatic cells; and (b) culturing the gene-introduced somatic cells in a culture medium containing a component that induces differentiation of the somatic cells or precursor cells of the somatic cells into other somatic cells.

Methods for generating cells of the inner ear, e.g., hair cells and supporting cells, from stem cells, e.g., mesenchymal stem cells, are provided, as well as compositions including the inner ear cells. Methods for the therapeutic use of the inner ear cells for the treatment of hearing loss are also described.

There is provided a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells by introduction of a Notch gene. Specifically, the invention provides a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells in vitro, which method comprises introducing a Notch gene and/or a Notch signaling related gene into the cells, wherein the finally obtained differentiated cells are the result of cell division of the bone marrow stromal cells into which the Notch gene and/or Notch signaling related gene have been introduced. The invention also provides a method of inducing further differentiation of the differentiation-induced neural cells to dopaminergic neurons or acetylcholinergic neurons. The invention yet further provides a treatment method for neurodegenerative and skeletal muscle degenerative diseases which employs neural precursor cells, neural cells or skeletal muscle cells produced by the method of the invention.

A method for purifying and enriching mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) simply and efficiently. Separation of cells expressing CD73 protein on the surface from fresh tissue isolated from a living body allows purification and enrichment of MSCs easily and efficiently. MSCs may be selectively isolated with a single antibody before culturing to establish a culture system of mesenchymal stem cells that enhances the engraftment efficiency in the transplanted site.

[Problem] To provide a cell preparation including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) having a high therapeutic effect. [Solution] A method for producing activated mesenchymal stem cells, including a step of culturing MSCs in a medium containing an activator that includes an extract from a mammalian fetal appendage as an active ingredient, using a cell culture carrier having a three-dimensional structure formed of a fiber is provided. A marker for a therapeutic effect of MSCs selected from the group consisting of p16.sup.ink4a, p14.sup.ARF, CDK4, CDK6, RB, and CD47, a method for determining a therapeutic effect using the marker, a method for determining suitability of MSCs to be treated with a treatment for enhancing a therapeutic effect of MSCs, a cell preparation including MSCs, and a method for producing the same are also provided.

Provided herein are methods of generating MDSCs ex vivo. The methods include culturing blood cells with an LRP2 agonist.

The present invention relates to a composition for inducing differentiation into insulin-producing cells, and a method for inducing differentiation into insulin-producing cells. By using a differentiation inducing composition according to an exemplary embodiment or a differentiation inducing method according to an exemplary embodiment, insulin-producing cells can be prepared in a short period by effectively inducing the differentiation of various types of stem cells into insulin-producing cells, and can be mass-produced in a relatively simple manner, and thus a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating diabetes mellitus, comprising insulin-producing cells and/or insulin produced thereby, can be provided.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for Alzheimer's treatment containing as an active ingredient of late-stage human mesenchymal stem cells induced into glia-like cells (ghMSCs). When the glia-like cells differentiated from the late-stage human mesenchymal stem cells were co-cultured with neural stem cells having toxicity induced by amyloid beta, effects of increasing the reduced viability and proliferative potential of the neural stem cells and reducing the increased cytotoxicity of the neural stem cells were verified. In addition, the expression of inflammasomes is reduced, and effects of improving long-term memory with respect to spatial perception ability and enhancing spatial cognitive ability in Alzheimer-induced mouse models were verified. Therefore, the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be advantageously used in Alzheimer's treatment.

A method is provided for producing a live cartilaginous material useful for implantation into a patient. A method of treating a patient comprising implanting a cartilaginous material prepared according to the provided method in an anatomical site in a patient also is provided.

Provided herein are a method of promoting osteogenic differentiation efficiency of a stem cell or of inducing chondrogenic differentiation of a stem cell, comprising treating the stem cell with a culture solution of chicken bone marrow-derived osteochondroprogenitor cells; a method of preventing or treating cartilage damage or a cartilage defect disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising a differentiation-induced stem cell or differentiated chondrocyte made by said method as an active ingredient; and a method of preventing or treating a bone disease, cartilage damage, or a cartilage defect disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, a composition comprising a culture solution or culture concentrate of chicken bone marrow-derived osteochondroprogenitor cells as an active ingredient.