Abstract: The object of the present invention is to improve the post-transplantation engraftment rate of cardiomyocytes that have been purified to such an extent that they are free from non-cardiomyocytes and any components derived from other species. To solve this problem, the present inventors studied the possibility of constructing cell masses from the purified cardiomyocytes. As a result, they revealed that the stated problem could be solved by providing a method of preparing cell masses of cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells, characterized in that cell masses of aggregated cells containing cardiomyocytes that had been differentiated and induced from pluripotent stem cells were dispersed to single cells to thereby obtain purified cardiomyocytes, which were then cultured in a culture medium under serum-free conditions so that they were reaggregated.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to improve the post-transplantation engraftment rate of cardiomyocytes that have been purified to such an extent that they are free from non-cardiomyocytes and any components derived from other species. To solve this problem, the present inventors studied the possibility of constructing cell masses from the purified cardiomyocytes. As a result, they revealed that the stated problem could be solved by providing a method of preparing cell masses of cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells, characterized in that cell masses of aggregated cells containing cardiomyocytes that had been differentiated and induced from pluripotent stern cells were dispersed to single cells to thereby obtain purified cardiomyocytes, which were then cultured in a culture medium under serum-free conditions so that they were reaggregated.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop a method for purify cardiomyocytes at a high degree of purification and at a high yield from a cell mixture comprising cardiomyocytes derived from fetuses and stem cells using various features which have not been previously expected to be used for purification of cardiomyocytes or which are newly found, wherein said method is carried out without undergoing any genetic modification or without adding any special proteins or biologically active agents.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to improve the post-transplantation engraftment rate of cardiomyocytes that have been purified to such an extent that they are free from non-cardiomyocytes and any components derived from other species. To solve this problem, the present inventors studied the possibility of constructing cell masses from the purified cardiomyocytes. As a result, they revealed that the stated problem could be solved by providing a method of preparing cell masses of cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells, characterized in that cell masses of aggregated cells containing cardiomyocytes that had been differentiated and induced from pluripotent stem cells were dispersed to single cells to thereby obtain purified cardiomyocytes, which were then cultured in a culture medium under serum-free conditions so that they were reaggregated.

Abstract: The present invention has as its object developing a method that does not involve genomic modification and which yet is capable of inducing cell death in pluripotent stem cells such as embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, as well as in differentiated cells other than cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells, but not in cardiomyocytes. It has been revealed that by establishing a method capable of inducing cell death in cells other than cardiomyocytes in a very efficient manner by adding a substance having no recognized inherent toxicity or cell death inducing action to the culture conditions for pluripotent stem cells and non-cardiomyocytes, the stated problem can be solved without relying upon genomic modification.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of selecting a cardiomyocyte from a cell population derived from a whole heart or a differentiated cell population derived from a stem cell without genetic alteration. Specifically, the invention relates to a method of selecting a cardiomyocyte from a cardiomyocyte-containing cell mixture without genetic alteration of a cardiomyocyte, on the basis of a relative content of cellular mitochondria and/or a relative mitochondrial transmembrane potential of the cell. The invention also relates to methods of enriching a cardiomyocyte from a cardiomyocyte-containing cell mixture without genetic alteration of a cardiomyocyte, producing a cardiomyocyte without genetic alteration of a cardiomyocyte, and evaluating the ratio of a cardiomyocyte in a cardiomyocyte-containing cell mixture.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for increasing the change in the fluorescent intensity as emitted from potential-sensitive fluorochromes depending on a potential or ionic strength change. Another object of the present invention is to measure the changes in the activity potentials of ES cell- or iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes that have heretofore been impossible to measure. The present inventors screened a variety of substances and found that vitamin E has an action for increasing the sensitivity of potential-sensitive fluorochromes whereas cholesterol has an action for enhancing the fluorescent intensity of potential-sensitive fluorochromes. In addition, it has become clear that these substances can be combined in such a way that the sensitivity of a potential-sensitive fluorochrome is increased by vitamin E while at the same time its absolute fluorescent intensity is enhanced by cholesterol.

Abstract: The present invention has as its object developing a method that does not involve genomic modification and which yet is capable of inducing cell death in pluripotent stem cells such as embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, as well as in differentiated cells other than cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells, but not in cardiomyocytes. It has been revealed that by establishing a method capable of inducing cell death in cells other than cardiomyocytes in a very efficient manner by adding a substance having no recognized inherent toxicity or cell death inducing action to the culture conditions for pluripotent stem cells and non-cardiomyocytes, the stated problem can be solved without relying upon genomic modification.

Abstract: The inventors of the present invention have developed a novel cell culture method with a view to providing a process by which cell masses uniform in size and properties can be produced in large quantities and with convenience, as well as a method of recovering them. The inventors of the present invention found that the above-mentioned objects could be attained by using a structural member having a hollow portion at least one lower end of which is open, creating a projecting portion of a culture medium at the open lower end of the structural member, and culturing cells in that projecting portion of the culture medium. The present invention has been accomplished on the basis of this finding.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to improve the post-transplantation engraftment rate of cardiomyocytes that have been purified to such an extent that they are free from non-cardiomyocytes and any components derived from other species. To solve this problem, the present inventors studied the possibility of constructing cell masses from the purified cardiomyocytes. As a result, they revealed that the stated problem could be solved by providing a method of preparing cell masses of cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells, characterized in that cell masses of aggregated cells containing cardiomyocytes that had been differentiated and induced from pluripotent stem cells were dispersed to single cells to thereby obtain purified cardiomyocytes, which were then cultured in a culture medium under serum-free conditions so that they were reaggregated.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop a method for purify cardiomyocytes at a high degree of purification and at a high yield from a cell mixture comprising cardiomyocytes derived from fetuses and stem cells using various features which have not been previously expected to be used for purification of cardiomyocytes or which are newly found, wherein said method is carried out without undergoing any genetic modification or without adding any special proteins or biologically active agents.

Abstract: A prophylactic or therapeutic method for a disease associated with decreased expression of AOP-1 gene or AOP-1, comprising (1) transfecting a nucleic acid encoding AOP-1 or a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having an addition, deletion or substitution of one or more amino acids as compared with the amino acid sequence of AOP-1 while retaining the function of AOP-1, or (2) administering a material enhancing the expression of AOP-1 gene, a material enhancing the production of AOP-1 or a material enhancing the function of AOP-1.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of selecting a cardiomyocyte from a cell population derived from a whole heart or a differentiated cell population derived from a stem cell without genetic alteration. Specifically, the invention relates to a method of selecting a cardiomyocyte from a cardiomyocyte-containing cell mixture without genetic alteration of a cardiomyocyte, on the basis of a relative content of cellular mitochondria and/or a relative mitochondrial transmembrane potential of the cell. The invention also relates to methods of enriching a cardiomyocyte from a cardiomyocyte-containing cell mixture without genetic alteration of a cardiomyocyte, producing a cardiomyocyte without genetic alteration of a cardiomyocyte, and evaluating the ratio of a cardiomyocyte in a cardiomyocyte-containing cell mixture.

Abstract: A prophylactic or therapeutic method for a disease associated with decreased expression of AOP-1 gene or AOP-1, comprising (1) transfecting a nucleic acid encoding AOP-1 or a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having an addition, deletion or substitution of one or more amino acids as compared with the amino acid sequence of AOP-1 while retaining the function of AOP-1, or (2) administering a material enhancing the expression of AOP-1 gene, a material enhancing the production of AOP-1 or a material enhancing the function of AOP-1.