A device for evaluating progression of differentiation from pluripotent stem cells to pigment-containing cells includes a first irradiation unit configured to irradiate cells in a vessel with light in a melanin absorption wavelength band, a first detection unit configured to detect photo-acoustic waves generated from the cells irradiated with the light, and a processor configured to output an evaluation result relevant to the progression of the differentiation of the cells to the pigment-containing cells, based on intensity of the detected photo-acoustic waves detected by the first detection unit.

The present disclosure relates to a method of generating bioartificial reptile leather by in vitro culturing of isolated cells the chorioallantois of hatched reptile eggs. The disclosure allows production of reptile leather without the ethical issues of conventional reptile farming and the trapping and killing of reptiles for their skin. Furthermore the disclosure allows production of reptile leather from species that are not abundantly available as skin products, such as from endangered species.

An application of a transgenic stem cell-derived exosome in preparing a medicament or whitening cosmetic is provided. In the present disclosure, miR-27b-3p is transfected into an epidermal stem cell, and a transgenic stem cell-derived exosome is harvested. It is experimentally verified that the exosome can inhibit the expression of PIK3R3 protein in melanocytes and the proliferation and migration of melanocytes; and safety experiments further demonstrate the safety of the exosome. Therefore, corresponding medicaments or cosmetics prepared from the exosome have excellent medicinal and cosmetic application prospects.

The present invention relates to the field of biology and medicine, and more specifically, to the field of stem-cell biology, involving producing or generating melanocytes from stem-cells and precursors derived from human hair root. Additionally, the present invention relates to the materials and method for producing autografts, homografts or allografts comprising melanocytes in general, as well as the materials and methods for producing autografts, homografts and allografts comprising melanocytes for the treatment of diseases related to depigmentation of the skin and for the treatment of scars.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for enhancing an immune response and/or for the treatment of an immune-related condition in an individual, e.g., cancer, comprising killing, disabling, or depleting non-stimulatory myeloid cells using an antigen binding protein such as an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof.

The present invention concerns the development of a model to evaluate active substances targeting the epidermis. It more particularly relates to the preparation of mixed spheroids of melanocytes and keratinocytes reproducing cell interactions occurring in the epidermis, to the spheroids as such and to the uses thereof.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for assaying the effectiveness of a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of an activated GαQ mutant cancer (e.g., melanoma or angiosarcoma) or an activated GαQ mutant melanocytic malignancy (e.g., Portwine stain or Sturge-Weber syndrome). Also disclosed herein are methods for treating an activated GαQ mutant cancer (e.g., melanoma or angiosarcoma) or an activated GαQ mutant melanocytic malignancy (e.g., Portwine stain or Sturge-Weber syndrome) in a subject in need thereof.

Compositions and methods for stimulating proliferation and/or migration of melanocytes in order to re-pigment skin regions, using ROCK inhibitors and optionally SIK inhibitors.

The present invention relates to the field of stem cell biology, in particular the linage specific differentiation of pluripotent or multipotent stem cells, which can include, but is not limited to, human embryonic stem cells (hESC), human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), somatic stem cells, cancer stem cells, or any other cell capable of lineage specific differentiation. Specifically described are methods to direct the lineage specific differentiation of hESC and/or hiPSC to nociceptors (i.e. nociceptor cells) using novel culture conditions. The nociceptors made using the methods of the present invention are further contemplated for various uses including, but limited to, use in in vitro drug discovery assays, pain research, and as a therapeutic to reverse disease of, or damage to, the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Further, compositions and methods are provided for producing melanocytes from human pluripotent stem cells for use in disease modeling.

The invention discloses the method of differentiating human induced Pluripotent Stem cells (iPS cells) to obtain pigmented cells which produce melanin. The protocol described is much more efficient than any other method used to obtain melanin in vitro.