Abstract: The present invention relates to the reprogramming of differentiated somatic cells, such as those differentiated cells that arise from embryonic mesoderm, into glial cells. Glial cells produced from this reprogramming are functionally equivalent to glial cells that arise from ectodermal origins.

Abstract: An embryonic stem cell line derived from a nucleus-transferred oocyte prepared by transferring a nucleus of a human somatic cell into an enucleated human oocyte may differentiate into various desired cell types.

Abstract: This invention provides an inducer of apoptosis in cancer cells comprising a fragment of the REIC/Dkk-3 gene and a cancer therapeutic agent comprising the same. This invention also provides a polynucleotide fragment encoding the REIC/Dkk-3 protein (a) or (b), which encodes a polypeptide having apoptosis activity: (a) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of amino acid 1 to any of amino acids 39 to 78 of the amino acid sequence of the REIC/Dkk-3 protein as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; or (b) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence of amino acid 1 to any of amino acids 39 to 78 of the amino acid sequence of the REIC/Dkk-3 protein as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 by substitution, deletion, or addition of 1 or several amino acids and having apoptosis activity.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an animal model of central neuropathic pain relevant to spinal cord injury, as well as methods of using the model to screen for therapeutic agents and to test existing therapies.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions of cell aggregates and methods for making and using the cell aggregates where the aggregates comprise cells that are not embryonic stem cells but can differentiate into cell types of at least two of ectodermal, endodermal, and mesodermal embryonic germ layers, e.g., stem cells.

Abstract: A use of a composition comprising umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells for inducing differentiation and proliferation of neural precursor cells or neural stem cells to neural cells is provided, the composition being effective for the treatment of nerve injury diseases.

Abstract: Pluripotent human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold great potential for restoring tissue and organ function, which has been hindered by inefficiency and instability of generating desired cell types through multi-lineage differentiation. This instant invention is based on the discovery that pluripotent hESCs maintained under defined culture conditions can be uniformly converted into a specific lineage by small molecule induction. Retinoic acid induces specification of neuroectoderm direct from the pluripotent state of hESCs and triggers progression to neuronal progenitors and neurons efficiently. Similarly, nicotinamide induces specification of cardiomesoderm direct from the pluripotent state of hESCs and triggers progression to cardiac precursors and cardiomyocytes efficiently. This technology provides a large supply of clinically-suitable human neuronal or cardiac therapeutic products for CNS or myocardium repair.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Adeno-associated virus 9 methods and materials useful for systemically delivering polynucleotides across the blood brain barrier. Accordingly, the present invention also relates to methods and materials useful for systemically delivering polynucleotides to the central and peripheral nervous systems. The present invention also relates to Adeno-associated virus type 9 methods and materials useful for intrathecal delivery of polynucleotides. Use of the methods and materials is indicated, for example, for treatment of lower motor neuron diseases such as spinal muscle atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as well as Pompe disease and lysosomal storage disorders. Use of the methods and materials is also indicated, for example, for treatment of Rett syndrome.

Abstract: The present invention is of methods of establishing and propagating human embryonic stem cell lines using feeder cells-free, xeno-free culture systems and stem cells which are capable of being maintained in an undifferentiated, pluripotent and proliferative state in culture which is free of xeno contaminants and feeder cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides chitosan-based nanoparticles that can protect nucleic acids and deliver the same into gut mucosal cells. Compositions and methods for the expression of therapeutic nucleic acids in cells of the gut mucosa are provided. Compositions and methods for delivering therapeutic proteins systemically from cells of the gut mucosa are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the induction of differentiation in human embryonic stem (hES) cells to cardiomyocytes and factors such as prostaglandin I2 (PGI2), Fgf 9, Bmp6, Bmp4, Scf, Igf2, and insulin that influence the process of differentiation to cardiomyocytes. Media that is appropriate for the induction of differentiation of cardiomyocytes from hES cells is also provided wherein the media contains these factors. Genes that are upregulated in the process of cardiomyocyte differentiation are also provided.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a method for directly obtaining pluripotent stem cells which do not have tumorigenic property from body tissue and the thus obtained pluripotent stem cells. The present invention relates to SSEA-3 (+) pluripotent stem cells that can be isolated from body tissue.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the treatment of hypoxia associated disorders by directional angiogenesis/arteriogenesis. Conditionally silenced vectors expressing a therapeutic molecule under hypoxic conditions avoid chaotic vascularization and allow for the orderly growth of new vessels into damaged tissue.

Abstract: Disclosure of a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line. Disclosure of a patient specific cell line. Methods to obtain a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line by fusing a differentiated mammalian cell and a functionally enucleated mammalian embryonic cell line. Methods to obtain a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line by fusing a differentiated mammalian cell and a functionally enucleated human cancer cell. Methods to obtain a patient specific cell line of a cell type similar to a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line by functionally enucleating the mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line and fusing the functionally enucleated mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line with a differentiated cell obtained from the patient. A method of treatment of a human patient by administering the patient-specific cell line to the patient.

Abstract: The present invention is related generally to embryonic-like stem cells isolated from human umbilical cord blood, designated herein as cord blood-stem cells (CB-SC's), which display the characteristics of embryonic stem cells and hematopoietic cells. These cells have the capability of proliferation and are able to differentiate to multiple types of cells. In addition, the CB-SC display low immunogenicity and immune regulation. These cells are, therefore, suitable for use in stem cell-based therapies for the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, spinal cord damage, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, stroke and birth defects, and for preventing, treating and/or reducing an autoimmune disease in a mammalian subject.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing mesenchymal stem cells from human pluripotent stem cells, the method including: a) forming embryonic bodies from human pluripotent stem cells; b) attaching the embryonic bodies to a culture dish to induce natural differentiation of the embryonic bodies into mesenchymal stem cells; and c) performing continuous proliferative culturing of the mesenchymal stem cells while still maintaining the identity of the mesenchymal stem cells. Also, provided is a standardized method for inducing differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, which can be broadly applied to all human pluripotent stem cells regardless of a difference in the genetic background thereof.

Abstract: A use of a composition comprising umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells for inducing differentiation and proliferation of neural precursor cells or neural stem cells to neural cells is provided, the composition being effective for the treatment of nerve injury diseases.

Abstract: Disclosure of a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line. Disclosure of a patient specific cell line. Disclosure of a method to obtain a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line by fusing a differentiated mammalian cell and a functionally enucleated mammalian embryonic cell line. Disclosure of a method to obtain a patient specific cell line of a cell type similar to a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line by functionally enucleating the mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line and fusing the functionally enucleated mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line with a differentiated cell obtained from the patient. A method of treatment administering the patient-specific cell line to the patient.

Abstract: A method for engineering and utilizing large DNA vectors to target, via homologous recombination, and modify, in any desirable fashion, endogenous genes and chromosomal loci in eukaryotic cells. These large DNA targeting vectors for eukaryotic cells, termed LTVECs, are derived from fragments of cloned genomic DNA larger than those typically used by other approaches intended to perform homologous targeting in eukaryotic cells. Also provided is a rapid and convenient method of detecting eukaryotic cells in which the LTVEC has correctly targeted and modified the desired endogenous gene(s) or chromosomal locus (loci) as well as the use of these cells to generate organisms bearing the genetic modification.