Abstract: A method for culturing bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells which is capable of efficiently culturing the cells while minimizing the influence of animal-derived serum by use of a serum-free medium. The method includes inoculating cells extracted from a bone marrow fluid to a culture vessel, and performing medium replacement a plurality of times before initial passage, wherein in the inoculation, a medium supplemented with animal-derived serum is used, and in any of the plurality of times of medium replacement, the medium is exchanged with a serum-free medium without the use of the serum, followed by culture in the serum-free medium.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the activity level of mesenchymal stem cells, and a method for culturing mesenchymal stem cells using the evaluation method in the field of culturing mesenchymal stem cells for regenerative medicine, and further, a method for producing a therapeutic agent for liver dysfunction and a therapeutic agent for liver dysfunction. This method for evaluating mesenchymal stem cell activity has an assay step for assaying the amount of adenylate kinase 4 (AK4) in the mesenchymal stem cells; and a determination step for determining the activity level of the mesenchymal stem cells from the assayed amount of adenylate kinase 4.

Abstract: A bone marrow fluid of a patient is sampled, housed in a collection tube 11 and conveyed into an isolator in a sterile state. In the isolator, the bone marrow fluid in the collection tube is pipetted into test tubes and culture tube, etc. To the bone marrow fluid in the tubes, an erythrocyte sedimentation agent is added. After precipitating erythrocytes, the supernatant is collected. From the collected supernatant, a bone marrow cell-containing fraction for liver regeneration is concentrated and pipetted into flasks which are conveyed into an incubator to start the cell-culture. From the isolator system, test tubes are taken out. The bone marrow fluid in the test tubes and the concentrate are subjected to a safety test, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for evaluating the activity level of mesenchymal stem cells, and a method for culturing mesenchymal stem cells using the evaluation method in the field of culturing mesenchymal stem cells for regenerative medicine, and further, a method for producing a therapeutic agent for liver dysfunction and a therapeutic agent for liver dysfunction. This method for evaluating mesenchymal stem cell activity according to the present invention comprises an assay step for assaying the amount of adenylate kinase 4 (AK4) in the mesenchymal stem cells; and a determination step for determining the activity level of the mesenchymal stem cells from the assayed amount of adenylate kinase 4.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prophylactic or therapeutic agent, a pharmaceutical composition and a health-promoting food, which are used for human or other animal for the inhibition of the onset or progress of liver cancer, namely, an inhibitor of the onset or progress of liver cancer, which contains isoleucine, leucine and valine as active ingredients, wherein the weight ratio of isoleucine, leucine and valine is preferably 1:1.5 to 2.5:0.8 to 1.7 and the daily dose is 2.0 g to 50.0 g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an agent for reducing the side effects of kinase inhibitors, the agent containing at least one branched-chain amino acid selected from among isoleucine, leucine and valine or a salt thereof as an active ingredient, and also relates to an anticancer medicine containing at least one branched-chain amino acid selected from among isoleucine, leucine and valine or a salt thereof, and a kinase inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prophylactic or therapeutic agent, a pharmaceutical composition and a health-promoting food, which are used for human or other animal for the inhibition of the onset or progress of liver cancer, namely, an inhibitor of the onset or progress of liver cancer, which contains isoleucine, leucine and valine as active ingredients, wherein the weight ratio of isoleucine, leucine and valine is preferably 1:1.5 to 2.5:0.8 to 1.7 and the daily dose is 2.0 g to 50.0 g.