Abstract: The invention provides a method of modulating electrophysiological activity of an excitable cell. The method involves causing exogenous expression of a glycine receptor (GlyR) protein in an excitable cell of a subject. Thereafter, the excitable cell is exposed to an allosteric modulator of the GlyR protein. Modulation of the exogenous GlyR protein (an ion channel) in response to the allosteric modulator modulates the electrophysiological activity of the excitable cell. The method can be used to control pain in a subject. The invention further provides a replication-defective HSV vector comprising an expression cassette encoding a GlyR protein, stocks and pharmaceutical compositions containing such vectors, and a transgenic animal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for maintaining and propagating undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells (SC) in suspension. The methods comprise culturing such SC in a non-adherent culture dish under conditions comprising a basic serum free medium and one or more of a basic medium, a serum replacement, an extra cellular matrix component and a factor supporting expansion of said SC. A specific and preferred culture condition comprise supplementing Neurobasal™ medium with KO serum replacement (KOSR). These conditions allowed for large scale and long term propagation of undifferentiated pluripotent SC. The culture system comprising suspended undifferentiated pluripotent SC were found to have many applications including in methods for directed as well as spontaneous differentiation of the SC into somatic cells. Also disclosed herein is a method of deriving SC, preferably human embryonic SC from human embryos via the formation of cell clusters.

Abstract: Certain embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a method of producing endoderm cells, such as definitive endoderm cells by exposing stem cells such as embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to an effective amount of at least one compound described herein to differentiate the stem cells into the endoderm cells such as definitive endoderm cells. Differentiated endoderm cells produced by the methods disclosed herein can be differentiated into pancreatic epithelium, and other endoderm derivatives such as thymus, liver, stomach, intestine and lung. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of producing pancreatic progenitor cells, such as Pdx1-positive pancreatic progenitor cells by exposing endoderm cells, such as definitive endoderm cells to an effective amount of at least one compound described herein to differentiate the definitive endoderm cells into Pdx1-positive pancreatic progenitor cells.

Abstract: Provided are a method of improving the efficiency of establishment of iPS cells, comprising the step of contacting one or more substances selected from the group consisting of members of the GLIS family (e.g., GLIS1) and nucleic acids that encode the same and one or more substances selected from the group consisting of members of the Klf family and nucleic acids that encode the same, with a somatic cell, an iPS cell comprising an exogenous nucleic acid that encodes a member of the GLIS family or a member of the Klf family, that can be obtained by the method, and a method of producing a somatic cell by inducing the differentiation of the iPS cell.

Abstract: The invention describes methods and agents for improving cosmetic appearance, for promoting, improving or restoring health of cells and tissues, preferably skin, and more preferably, for restoring aged or damaged skin to a healthy appearance. In preferred embodiments, the methods and agents comprise active extracts produced from fish eggs. The invention further provides processes for making active fish egg extracts.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for acquiring a germ line chimeric fish having fish haploid germ cells, a germ line chimeric fish having haploid germ cells obtained by the aforesaid method, and a genetically identical gamete, said gamete having been derived from a donor haploid germ cell, produced by a germ line chimeric fish obtained by the aforesaid method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing an embryonic stem cell (ESC)-like cell, which includes the steps of: (a) obtaining a first cell population from a mammalian tissue or body fluid, wherein the first cell population comprises adult stem cells; (b) obtaining a second somatic cell population from a mammalian tissue, wherein the mammalian tissue is different from the mammalian tissue in step (a) and the second cell population is different from the first cell population; (c) coculturing the first cell population and the second cell population in a medium for a period of time sufficient to form a colony from either the first cell population or the second cell population; and (d) subculturing a cell from the colony in a medium for a period time sufficient to prepare the ESC-like cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically altered hybridomas, myelomas and B cells. The invention also relates to utilizing genetically altered hybridomas, myelomas and B cells in methods of making monoclonal antibodies. The present invention also provides populations of hybridomas and B cells that can be utilized to make a monoclonal antibody of interest.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method of efficiently constructing a gene delivery carrier having a favorable activity and expression efficiency of a protein expressed by a gene introduced by transformation. Moreover, an object of the present invention is to provide a pharmaceutical composition comprising a gene delivery carrier constructed by the construction method and a therapeutic agent for solid tumor comprising the resistant bacterium.

Abstract: Described are the use of stem cell markers for the isolation of stem cells and the use of the obtained stem cells in, for example, research or treatment, such as for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of damaged or diseased tissue. In one aspect, provided is a method for obtaining or isolating stem cells that comprises preparing a cell suspension from a tissue or organ sample, contacting the cell suspension with an Lgr 6 or 5 binding compound, identifying the cells bound to the binding compound, and isolating the stem cells from the binding compound. Further described are methods and compositions for cancer treatment, for example, by eradicating cancer stem cells.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for modulating an immune reaction between lymphocytes and a body recognized by the lymphocytes as foreign. The method exploits the immunomodulating activity of a new class of progenitor cells termed HUCPVCs derived from the perivascular region of human umbilical cord. The method can also emply soluble factors exuded by cultured HUCPVCs. The method is useful to treat immune disorders including graft versus host disease, autoimmune disorders, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for production of undifferentiated or differentiated embryonic stem cell aggregate suspension cultures from undifferentiated or differentiated embryonic stem cell single cell suspensions and methods of differentiation thereof.

Abstract: We provide for the use of Tbx3 (GenBank Accession Number: NM_005996.3 (SEQ ID NO. 1), NP_005987.3 (SEQ ID NO. 2), NM_016569.3 (SEQ ID NO. 3), NP_057653.3 (SEQ ID NO. 4)) in a method of enhancing or inducing pluripotency in a cell such as a somatic cell. We describe a method of reprogramming a cell, the method comprising modulating the expression and/or activity of Tbx3 in the cell. The cell may become a pluripotent cell such as a stem cell. We further describe a method of causing a cell such as a somatic cell to display one or more characteristics of a pluripotent cell, the method comprising modulating the expression and/or activity of Tbx3 in the cell. The method may further comprise modulating the expression and/or activity of one or more, a combination of or all of Oct4, Sox2 and Klf4 in the cell.

Abstract: The disclosure provides implants containing a plurality of particles containing at least one population of viable tissuegenic cells adherent to and resident in the growth-conductive matrix or at least viable population of tissuegenic cells caused to be in contact with the growth-conductive matrix; methods to fabricate implants; methods of fabricating the implants; and use of the implants in tissue repair.

Abstract: The invention describes methods and agents for improving cosmetic appearance, for promoting, improving or restoring health of cells and tissues, preferably skin, and more preferably, for restoring aged or damaged skin to a healthy appearance. The agents include compositions of cells, eggs, cell extracts, egg extracts, and extract components such as purified nucleic acids, polypeptides, lipids, carbohydrates or other natural products.

Abstract: Mice that comprise a replacement of endogenous mouse IL-6 and/or IL-6 receptor genes are described, and methods for making and using the mice. Mice comprising a replacement at an endogenous IL-6R? locus of mouse ectodomain-encoding sequence with human ectodomain-encoding sequence is provided. Mice comprising a human IL-6 gene under control of mouse IL-6 regulatory elements is also provided, including mice that have a replacement of mouse IL-6-encoding sequence with human IL-6-encoding sequence at an endogenous mouse IL-6 locus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-human mammalian animal model for type 2 diabetes, which spontaneously develops a pathological condition similar to human type 2 diabetes of a non-obese type seen in some Japanese people. The non-human mammalian animal model for type 2 diabetes according to the present invention is deficient in a Cdkal1 gene function on the chromosome of the ? cell of the pancreas.

Abstract: The disclosure provides implants containing a plurality of particles containing at least one population of viable tissuegenic cells adherent to and resident in the growth-conductive matrix or at least viable population of tissuegenic cells caused to be in contact with the growth-conductive matrix; methods to fabricate implants; methods of fabricating the implants; and use of the implants in tissue repair.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolation of novel ?-actin and ribosomal protein S21 (rpS21) promoters and uses thereof. In particular, this invention features nucleotide sequences for rodent ?-actin promoters including, hamster, rat, and mouse, and hamster rpS21 promoter.

Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a kit is described. The kit includes primed living cells joined to and at least partially within a three-dimensional hydrogel structure and an isolated polypeptide having the carboxy-terminal amino acid sequence of an alpha Connexin, or a conservative variant thereof, wherein the polypeptide does not include the full length alpha Connexin protein.