Abstract: Provided is a method of improving the efficiency of iPS cell establishment, comprising bringing one or more factors selected from the group consisting of proteins belonging to cyclin D family and nucleic acids that encode the same into contact with a somatic cell, in the step of nuclear reprogramming of the somatic cell. Also provided are a method of producing an iPS cell comprising the step of bringing the factor(s) and nuclear reprogramming substance(s) into contact with a somatic cell, an iPS cell comprising a nucleic acid that encodes a protein belonging to cyclin D family that can be obtained by the method of producing an iPS cell, and a method of somatic cell production by forcing the iPS cell to differentiate.

Abstract: Human non-embryonic adult totipotent and pluripotent stem cells are isolated in a simplified serum-free and feeder cell-free process. Most remarkably, certain stem cells, and especially BLSCs, are extremely small, fail to exclude trypan blue, but are nevertheless able to proliferate from even high dilutions. Therefore, so obtained stem cells can be used to prepare true monoclonal stem cell populations, which are useful in numerous uses, including therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, and research uses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing mesenchymal stem cell-like cells and cardiomyocyte-like cells from induced pluripotent stem cells. With the method, embryoid bodies are first formed from induced pluripotent stem cells in a non-adherent substrate. The embryoid bodies are then contacted with a serum-free and insulin-free medium comprising a p38-MAPK inhibitor to form aggregates of contracting embryoid bodies. The contracting embryoid body aggregate(s) are then induced to form mesenchymal stem-cell-like cells and aggregates of cardiomyocyte-like stem cells with a medium comprising ?5% serum in a cell-culture treated substrate. The cardiomyocyte-like cells and the mesenchymal stem-cell like cells may be separated to give isolated populations of each cell type. The population of cardiomyocyte-like cells and mesenchymal stem-cell like cells and the isolated population of each cell type may be used for replacing cells.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods of use in reprogramming somatic cells. Compositions and methods of the invention are of use, e.g., for generating or modulating (e.g., enhancing) generation of induced pluripotent stem cells by reprogramming somatic cells. The reprogrammed somatic cells are useful for a number of purposes, including treating or preventing a medical condition in an individual. The invention further provides methods for identifying an agent that reprograms somatic cells to a pluripotent state and/or enhances the speed and/or efficiency of reprogramming. Certain of the compositions and methods relate to modulating the Wnt pathway.

Abstract: Methods for de-differentiating or altering the life-span of desired “recipient” cells, e.g., human somatic cells, by the introduction of cytoplasm from a more primitive, less differentiated cell type, e.g., oocyte or blastomere are provided. These methods can be used to produce embryonic stem cells and to increase the efficiency of gene therapy by allowing for desired cells to be subjected to multiple genetic modifications without becoming senescent. Such cytoplasm may be fractionated and/or subjected to subtractive hybridization and the active materials (sufficient for de-differentiation) identified and produced by recombinant methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of improving titer in transfection-based bioreactor culture production or transfection-based production systems using eukaryotic cells.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a method for directly obtaining pluripotent stem cells 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: Human pluripotent embryonic stem cells produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer as well as methods of making and using said human pluripotent embryonic stem cells are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides PiggyBac transposase proteins, nucleic acids encoding the same, compositions comprising the same, kits comprising the same, non-human transgenic animals comprising the same, and methods of using the same.

Abstract: The present application provides novel regulatory elements including promoter sequences from marine microorganisms. The application further discloses DNA constructs containing these novel regulatory elements; transgenic cells, transgenic non-human organisms, and progeny containing these novel regulatory elements. Methods of modifying, producing, and using the regulatory elements are also disclosed. The regulatory elements disclosed herein are particularly suited for use in Nannochloropsis and other microalgae.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an active collagen matrix for culturing mammalian cells and the use of the active collagen matrix and cells for the treatment of disease.

Abstract: Human progenitor T cells that are able to successfully engraft a murine thymus and differentiate into mature human T and NK cells are described. The human progenitor T cells have the phenotype CD34+CD7+CD 1a?CD5? or CD34+CD7+CD1a?CD5+ and are derived from human hematopoietic stem cells, embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells by coculture with cells expressing a Notch receptor ligand (OP9-DL1 or OP9-DL4). Such cells are useful in a variety of applications including immune reconstitution, the treatment of immunodeficiencies and as carriers for genes used in gene therapy.

Abstract: Substantially enriched mammalian lung endothelial and epithelial progenitor cell populations are provided. Methods are provided for the isolation and in vivo differentiation of such lung progenitor cells. The progenitor cells are obtained from lung tissue, including fetal and adult tissues. The cells are useful in transplantation, for experimental evaluation, and as a source of lineage and cell specific products, including mRNA species useful in identifying genes specifically expressed in these cells, and as targets for the discovery of factors or molecules that can affect them.

Abstract: Genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI) polypeptides and the nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides are provided. In addition, methods of using such nucleic acids and polypeptides in methods of screening for agonists or antagonists of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) or ion channels and methods of monitoring neural activity also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing compositions including embryonic proteins. The method includes culturing cells under hypoxic conditions on a biocompatible surface in vitro. The culturing method produces both soluble and non-soluble fractions, which may be used separately or in combination to obtain physiologically acceptable compositions useful in a variety of medical and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified and optimized Factor VIII or Factor IX nucleic acid for inclusion in a chimeric virus vector. Use of such vector can be used for treatment of hemophilia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for reprogramming a somatic cell to pluripotency by administering into the somatic cell at least one or a plurality of potency-determining factors. The invention also relates to pluripotent cell populations obtained using a reprogramming method.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of reprogramming one or more somatic cells, e.g., partially differentiated or fully/terminally differentiated somatic cells, to a less differentiated state, e.g., a pluripotent or multipotent state. In further embodiments the invention also relates to reprogrammed somatic cells produced by methods of the invention, to chimeric animals comprising reprogrammed somatic cells of the invention, to uses of said cells, and to methods for identifying agents useful for reprogramming somatic cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of isolating a pluripotent cell from a pre-implantation embryo without isolation of the pluripotent cells from other cells, the method including propagating a whole pre-implantation embryo including one or more pluripotent cells, embedded in a feeder cell layer and cultivated in a medium substantially free of serum, and isolating a pluripotent cell from the one or more pluripotent cells. The present invention also provides pluripotent cells generated by the method and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stem cells in which a gene that activates signaling is introduced and to a method for proliferating the stem cells. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of significantly increasing the ability of stem cells to proliferate, either by transfecting stem cells with the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) to activate the Notch signaling pathway, or by transfecting stem cells with the c-MET gene and treating the transfected stem cells with the HGF ligand protein to activate the c-MET/HGF signaling pathway. According to the present invention, as a result of activating the Notch signaling pathway or the c-MET/HGF signaling pathway, stem cells having an excellent ability to proliferate can be produced in large amounts. Particularly, since neural stem cells which have been difficult to culture in vitro can be proliferated in large amounts, thus the neural stem cells will be more useful for the preparation of cell therapeutic agents for treating cranial nerve diseases.