This disclosure relates to endothelial and smooth muscle like vascular tissue produced from urine cells. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of producing endothelial and smooth muscle like vascular tissue by exposing urine derived cells with ETV2 in a first growth media under conditions such that the cells are modified to form a pool of cells expressing increased levels of endothelium surface markers and thereafter exposing the pool of cells to a second growth media under conditions such that the cells are modified to form tissue containing cells expressing increased levels of smooth muscle surface markers in addition to the endothelium surface markers. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to using cells and tissues reported herein for the treatment of vascular, cardiac, and wound healing indications.

According to the present disclosure, provided is a method for manufacturing induced pluripotent stem cells including preparing cells and introducing RNA into the cells, wherein the RNA includes RNA encoding a reprogramming factor and wherein, in the RNA introduced into the cells, double-stranded RNA is substantially removed.

Expression of exogenous SNAI2, EYA1 and SIX1 genes in a cell, tissue or organ not normally having nephron progenitor activity, induces or re-programs that cell to have or subsequently develop nephron progenitor activity. Nephron progenitors induced 5 by expression of SNAI2, EYA1 and SIX1 may be used for the production of nephron cells and tissues that are useful in treatment of kidney disorders, kidney regeneration, kidney transplantation, bioprinting and nephrotoxocity testing.

The subject matter of the present invention is a method for differentiating epithelial stem cells, comprising culturing one or more epithelial stem cells in contact with an extracellular matrix in the presence of an expansion medium, a bovine pituitary extract, a receptor tyrosine kinase ligand, a supernatant of primary fibroblasts and optionally, a Rho kinase inhibitor.

The invention relates to a method for inducing pluripotent stem cells, wherein a mammalian cell is contacted with a compound characterized by a general formula 1 wherein R.sup.1 is (CH.sub.2).sub.mE, with E being CCH or CN and m being 0, 1, or 2, and R.sup.2 is selected from F, CI, Br, OR.sup.3 and R.sup.3, with R.sup.3 being selected from H, (CH.sub.yF.sub.2-y).sub.n CH.sub.XF.sub.3-X, with n=0 or 1. The invention further relates to stem cells obtained by the method of the invention, and culture media comprising the compound of the invention.

A method of reprogramming a differentiated renal cell towards a progenitor phenotype is disclosed. The method comprises up-regulating in the differentiated renal cell an expression of at least one pluripotency associated gene and/or at least one renal stem cell associated gene, thereby reprogramming the differentiated renal cell towards a progenitor phenotype. Cell populations generated thereby and uses thereof are also disclosed.

A method for reducing renal tissue toxicity in a subject caused by a kidney damaging agent is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject: (i) a kidney damaging agent; and (ii) an inhibitor of glucose reabsorption.

Disclosed is a method for inducing direct reprogramming of urine cells into renal progenitor cells and a pharmaceutical composition including the renal progenitor cells reprogrammed by the method for preventing or treating renal cell injury disease. The method can make the mass production of customized reprogrammed renal progenitor cells by using urine cells, which are somatic cells easily and repeatedly obtainable without inconvenience and pain and as such, can be applied to incurable disease fields expandable to the renal injury therapy and kidney regeneration fields and to the production of cell therapy products.

The present disclosure relates to compositions, nucleic acid constructs, methods and kits thereof for cell induction or reprogramming cells to the dendritic cell state or antigen presenting cell state, based, in part, on the surprisingly effect described herein of novel use and combinations of transcription factors that permit induction or reprogramming of differentiated or undifferentiated cells into dendritic cells or antigen presenting cells. Such compositions, nucleic acid constructs, methods and kits can be used for inducing dendritic cells in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo, and these induced dendritic cells or antigen presenting cells can be used for immunotherapy applications.

A method for producing pancreatic endocrine cells, the method including introducing one or more genes of a GLIS family or one or more gene products thereof and a Neurogenin3 gene or one or more gene products thereof into somatic cells.