Abstract: An allergic disease-related substance is screened from candidate substances based on the reactivity to a plurality of cell lines, which are basophil-like or mast cell-like cell lines derived from the same spleen tissue and have different sensitivities to allergic cytokines. Further, an allergic disease-related substance is screened from candidate substances using at least one basophil-like or mast cell-like cell lines selected from the group consisting of R cell (Deposit No. FERM BP-10918), N 62.5 cell (Deposit No. FERM BP-10919) and RCCM cell (Deposit No. FERM BP-10920).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tumor suppressor gene, termed HLS-5 and the amino acid sequence that it encodes. The present invention also relates to the use of HLS-5 in regulating cell growth.

Abstract: The invention relates to developments in the treatment of diabetes in mammals. Particularly it relates to a method of preparing a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation capable upon xenotransplantation of producing porcine insulin in an appropriate recipient mammal, the method including or comprising the steps of: (I) harvesting the pancreas of piglets at or near full term gestation, and (ii) extracting pancreatic ? islet cells from the harvested pancreas wherein the islets (at least at some stage in the performance of the method) are exposed to nicotinamide. Further, the invention relates to a method of encapsulation of a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation, and transplantation of such a preparation, or a capsule containing such a preparation, into an appropriate recipient mammal.

Abstract: Based upon a strong correlation between regulator T cells (Treg cells) and suppressing or preventing a cytotoxic T cell response, provided are methods for the production of ex vivo activated and culture-expanded isolated CD4+CD25+ suppressor Treg cells for the prevention or suppression of immune reactions in a host, particularly in a human host, and including autoimmune responses. The resulting ex vivo culture-expanded Treg cells provide a sufficient amount of otherwise low numbers of such cells, having long term suppressor capability to permit therapeutic uses, including the preventing, suppressing, blocking or inhibiting the rejection of transplanted tissue in a human or other animal host, or protecting against graft vs host disease. Also provided are therapeutic and immunosuppressive methods utilizing the ex vivo culture-expanded Treg cells for human treatment, and high efficiency methods for research use.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of differentiating primate pluripotent stem cells into cells of hematopoietic lineage. The invention further provides hematopoietic lineage cells differentiated from primate pluripotent stem cells, as well as methods of using the same and kits comprising the same.

Abstract: A method for isolation of an inner cell mass and a method for preparation of embryonic stem cell lines using the inner cell mass isolated by the same. A blastocyst being free from a zona pellucida removed therefrom is placed on a feeder cell, and a micro cover glass is put on the blastocyst to apply pressure caused by a weight of the micro cover glass, to the blastocyst for a desired time, so that the inner cell mass may be obtained with considerably improved yield compared to conventional methods, and therefore, an embryonic stem cell line may be efficiently established and proliferated.

Abstract: A composition for implantation into cardiac tissue includes a biological pacemaker that, when implanted, expresses an effective amount of a mutated hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) isoform to modify Ih when compared with wild-type HCN. Methods for implementing each of the biologocal pacemakers include implanting each of biologocal pacemakers into cardiac tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes mammalian pluripotent embryonic-like stem cells (ELSCs) isolated from corneal limbal tissue, a non-embryonic tissue. The ELSCs of the present disclosure are capable of proliferating in an in vitro culture, maintain the potential to differentiate into cells of endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm lineage in culture, and are capable of forming embryoid-like bodies when placed in suspension culture. Thus, these cells possess multi-lineage differentiation potential and self-renewing capability. ELSCs may be a promising therapeutic tool, and may provide new therapeutic alternatives for various diseases, conditions, and injuries.

Abstract: The present invention provides placental stem cells and placental stem cell populations, and methods of culturing, proliferating and expanding the same. The invention also provides methods of differentiating the placental stem cells. The invention further provides methods of using the placental stem cells in assays and for transplanting.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods of using placental stem cells that originate from a postpartum placenta with conventional cord blood compositions or other stem or progenitor cells. The placental stem cells can be used alone or in a mixture with other stem cell populations. In accordance with the present invention, the placental stem cells may be mixed with other stem cell populations, including but not limited to, umbilical cord blood, fetal and neonatal hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells, human stem cells and progenitor cells derived from bone marrow. The placental stem cells and the mixed populations of placental stem cells and stem cells have a multitude of uses and applications, including but not limited to, therapeutic uses for transplantation and treatment and prevention of disease, and diagnostic and research uses.

Abstract: A DNA vaccine suitable for eliciting an immune response against cancer cells comprises a polynucleotide construct operably encoding an a Fra-1 protein, such as a polyubiquitinated human Fra-1 protein, and IL-18, such as human IL-18, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the polynucleotide construct is operably incorporated in an attenuated bacterial vector, such as an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium, particularly a doubly attenuated aroA? dam? S. typhimurium. Transformed host cells, methods of inhibiting tumor growth, of vaccinating a patient against cancer, and of delivering genetic material to a mammalian cell in vivo are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates, generally, to improved methods of delivering a biologically active agent, in particular a therapeutic or prophylactic nucleic acid, to the ocular sphere of a subject comprising administering said agent to the ciliary body tissue(s) or cells and/or to the extra-ocular muscle tissue or cells. More particularly, the invention relates to devices, their uses, notably in gene therapy, and to methods for treating pathologies of the ocular sphere by specific ciliary body tissue(s) or cells and/or extra-ocular muscle or cells administration of a therapeutic product and transfer thereof into the ocular tissue to be treated. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the product in a form suitable for ciliary body tissue(s) or cells and/or extra-ocular muscle or cells administration, their preparation and uses.

Abstract: Methods for treating a patient having a disease or damage to at least one kidney are provided. The methods comprise administering cells obtained from human umbilical cord tissue, or administering pharmaceutical compositions comprising such cells or prepared from such cells. When administered, the cells promote and support the repair and regeneration of the diseased or damaged kidney tissue in the patient. Pharmaceutical compositions for use in the inventive methods, as well as kits for practicing the methods are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a universal immunomodulatory cytokine-expressing bystander cell line, a composition comprising such a cell line and a cancer antigen, a method of making such a cell line, and a method of using such a composition.

Abstract: Polynucleotide expression constructs, populations of cells and methods of treating diseases caused by dysfunction in, or damage to, excitable tissues are provided.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for inducing and enhancing immune responses, such as antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, using chimeric molecules comprising endoplasmic reticulum chaperone polypeptides and antigenic peptides. In particular, the invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing immune responses induced by polypeptides made in vivo by administered nucleic acid, such as naked DNA or expression vectors, encoding the chimeric molecules. The invention provides a method of inhibiting the growth of a tumor in an individual. The invention also provides novel self-replicating RNA virus constructs for enhancing immune responses induced by chimeric polypeptides made in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmembrane delivery peptide derived from human in which a target protein may be easily delivered into cells, and a recombinant vector comprising a nucleic acid coding the peptide. More specifically, the present invention relates to the transmembrane delivery peptide having an amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID No. 1 including 11 amino acids of specific sites in amino acid sequences of human G protein alpha 12, and a recombinant vector comprising a nucleic acid coding the same, a transformant prepared by introducing said recombinant vector, and the like. Since transmembrane delivery peptides of the present invention can be efficiently delivered into cells, they may be usefully used for the purposes of delivering various target materials, including proteins, nucleic acid, drugs and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of Stem Cell Factor in the protection of multiprogenitor cells and in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced depletion of blood cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of extracting and recovering embryonic-like stem cells, including, but not limited to pluripotent or multipotent stem cells, from an exsanguinated human placenta. A placenta is treated to remove residual umbilical cord blood by perfusing an exsanguinated placenta, preferably with an anticoagulant solution, to flush out residual cells. The residual cells and perfusion liquid from the exsanguinated placenta are collected, and the embryonic-like stem cells are separated from the residual cells and perfusion liquid. The invention also provides a method of utilizing the isolated and perfused placenta as a bioreactor in which to propagate endogenous cells, including, but not limited to, embryonic-like stem cells. The invention also provides methods for propagation of exogenous cells in a placental bioreactor and collecting the propagated exogenous cells and bioactive molecules therefrom.

Abstract: An animal model for hyperpigmentations in which the formation of hyperpigmentations in human skin is faithfully simulated is provided. An animal model for hyperpigmentations, wherein a black person's skin is grafted onto a non-human animal, is provided.