Abstract: The disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition for use in treating fibrosis comprising a reovirus as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Provided is a selective method for inducing differentiation from pluripotent stem cells to enterocyte-like cells. Also provided is an excellent enterocyte-like cell expressing drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters. More specifically, provided is an enterocyte-like cell having properties closer to those of primary enterocytes, which are difficult to acquire. The foregoing is achieved by adding an ALK5 inhibitor (SB431542), Wnt3a, and EGF to a culture system of definitive endoderm cells obtained by differentiation induction from pluripotent stem cells and extending a culture time. The foregoing is also achieved by introducing CDX2 gene and/or FOXA2 gene into the pluripotent stem cells or the definitive endoderm cells. The foregoing is also achieved by overlaying a basement membrane matrix on the enterocyte-like cells.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition for use in treating fibrosis comprising a reovirus as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Provided is a selective method for inducing differentiation from pluripotent stem cells to enterocyte-like cells. Also provided is an excellent enterocyte-like cell expressing drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters. More specifically, provided is an enterocyte-like cell having properties closer to those of primary enterocytes, which are difficult to acquire. The foregoing is achieved by adding an ALK5 inhibitor (SB431542), Wnt3a, and EGF to a culture system of definitive endoderm cells obtained by differentiation induction from pluripotent stem cells and extending a culture time. The foregoing is also achieved by introducing CDX2 gene and/or FOXA2 gene into the pluripotent stem cells or the definitive endoderm cells. The foregoing is also achieved by overlaying a basement membrane matrix on the enterocyte-like cells.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel conditionally replicating adenovirus and a reagent comprising the same for cancer cell detection or for cancer diagnosis. The present invention provides a polynucleotide, which comprises human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter, E1A gene, IRES sequence and E1B gene in this order and which comprises a target sequence of a first miRNA. The present invention also provides a recombinant adenovirus, which comprises a replication cassette comprising the above polynucleotide, wherein the replication cassette is integrated into the E1 region of the adenovirus genome.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a gene transduction method for use in the induction of the differentiation of stem cells such as ES cells or iPS cells into hepatocytes effectively; stem cells into each of which a gene useful for the induction of the differentiation into hepatocytes is introduced; and hepatocytes produced from stem cells each having the gene introduced therein. A specific gene can be introduced into stem cells such as ES cells or iPS cells using an adenovirus vector. The effective induction of the differentiation into hepatocytes can be achieved by introducing the gene. Specifically, the effective induction of the differentiation of stem cells such as ES cells or iPS cells into hepatocytes can be achieved by introducing at least one gene selected from HEX gene, HNF4A gene, HNF6 gene and SOX17 gene into the stem cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to an adenovirus vector having excellent gene transfection activity on specific cell lines, particularly on hematopoietic cells. This adenovirus vector derives from the adenovirus type 35 genome by at least partial or total deletion of the E1 region therefrom. The adenovirus vector according to this invention has excellent gene transfection activity on specific cell lines, particularly on hematopoietic cells, ES cells, pluripotent stem cells, blood stem cells, and tissue stem cells.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel conditionally replicating adenovirus and a reagent comprising the same for cancer cell detection or for cancer diagnosis. The present invention provides a polynucleotide, which comprises human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter, E1A gene, IRES sequence and E1B gene in this order and which comprises a target sequence of a first miRNA. The present invention also provides a recombinant adenovirus, which comprises a replication cassette comprising the above polynucleotide, wherein the replication cassette is integrated into the E1 region of the adenovirus genome.

Abstract: Provided is a method of stably maintaining and culturing “hepatoblast-like cells” generated during a differentiation-inducing process from pluripotent stem cells to hepatocytes. The present invention also provides a culture product obtained by the culture method. The hepatoblast-like cells can be maintained and cultured stably by bringing a laminin into contact with the hepatoblast-like cells. The method of the present invention which uses a laminin makes it possible for the first time to culture, maintain, and proliferate the hepatoblast-like cells. Desired mature cells such as mature hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells can be generated in a short time period and can be acquired at a desired timing by maintaining the hepatoblast-like cells. Further, the resulting cultured hepatoblast-like cells were demonstrated to be capable of being induced to differentiate into mature hepatocytes, mature cholangiocytes, bile duct epithelial cells, and the like.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel conditionally replicating adenovirus and a reagent comprising the same for cancer cell detection or for cancer diagnosis. The present invention provides a polynucleotide, which comprises human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter, E1A gene, IRES sequence and E1B gene in this order and which comprises a target sequence of a first miRNA. The present invention also provides a recombinant adenovirus, which comprises a replication cassette comprising the above polynucleotide, wherein the replication cassette is integrated into the E1 region of the adenovirus genome.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a gene transduction method for use in the induction of the differentiation of stem cells such as ES cells or iPS cells into hepatocytes effectively; stem cells into each of which a gene useful for the induction of the differentiation into hepatocytes is introduced; and hepatocytes produced from stem cells each having the gene introduced therein. A specific gene can be introduced into stem cells such as ES cells or iPS cells using an adenovirus vector. The effective induction of the differentiation into hepatocytes can be achieved by introducing the gene. Specifically, the effective induction of the differentiation of stem cells such as ES cells or iPS cells into hepatocytes can be achieved by introducing at least one gene selected from HEX gene, HNF4A gene, HNF6 gene and SOX17 gene into the stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reagent for cancer cell detection or cancer diagnosis. The present invention relates to a reagent for cancer cell detection, comprising a recombinant virus where a replication cassette comprising a promoter from human telomerase, an E1A gene, an IRES sequence and an E1B gene in this order is integrated in E1 region of the viral genome and a labeling cassette comprising a gene encoding a labeling protein and a promoter capable of regulating the expression of the gene encoding the labeling protein is integrated in E3 region of the viral genome.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reagent for cancer cell detection or cancer diagnosis. The present invention relates to a reagent for cancer cell detection, comprising a recombinant virus where a replication cassette comprising a promoter from human telomerase, an E1A gene, an IRES sequence and an E1B gene in this order is integrated in E1 region of the viral genome and a labeling cassette comprising a gene encoding a labeling protein and a promoter capable of regulating the expression of the gene encoding the labeling protein is integrated in E3 region of the viral genome.

Abstract: The present invention relates to providing a reagent for cancer cell detection or cancer diagnosis, a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of cancer, and a method of treating or preventing cancer in a subject. Specifically, the present invention relates to a reagent for cancer cell detection, comprising a recombinant virus where a replication cassette comprising a promoter from human telomerase, an E1A gene, an IRES sequence and an E1B gene in this order is integrated in E1 region of the viral genome and a labeling cassette comprising a gene encoding a labeling protein and a promoter capable of regulating the expression of the gene encoding the labeling protein is integrated in E3 region of the viral genome.

Abstract: There is provided a virus vector characterized in that a water-soluble polymer is directly or indirectly linked to a surface of a virus particle and a heterogeneous peptide having an affinity for integrin present on a surface of a target cell is linked to the water-soluble polymer.

Abstract: In vitro methods for making a recombinant adenoviral genome, as well as kits for practicing the same and the recombinant adenovirus vectors produced thereby, are provided. In the subject methods, the subject genomes are prepared from first and second vectors. The first vector includes an adenoviral genome having an E region deletion and three different, non-adenoviral restriction endonuclease sites located in the E region. The second vector is a shuttle vector and includes an insertion nucleic acid flanked by two of the three different non-adenoviral endonuclease sites present in the first vector. Cleavage products are prepared from the first and second vectors using the appropriate restriction endonucleases. The resultant cleavage products are then ligated to produce the subject recombinant adenovirus genome. The subject adenoviral genomes find use in a variety of applications, including as vectors for use in a variety of applications, including gene therapy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reagent for cancer cell detection or cancer diagnosis. The present invention relates to a reagent for cancer cell detection, comprising a recombinant virus where a replication cassette comprising a promoter from human telomerase, an E1A gene, an IRES sequence and an E1B gene in this order is integrated in E1 region of the viral genome and a labeling cassette comprising a gene encoding a labeling protein and a promoter capable of regulating the expression of the gene encoding the labeling protein is integrated in E3 region of the viral genome.

Abstract: This invention relates to an adenovirus vector having excellent gene transfection activity on specific cell lines, particularly on hematopoietic cells. This adenovirus vector derives from the adenovirus type 35 genome by at least partial or total deletion of the E1 region therefrom. The adenovirus vector according to this invention has excellent gene transfection activity on specific cell lines, particularly on hematopoietic cells, ES cells, pluripotent stem cells, blood stem cells, and tissue stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for constructing a fiber-mutant adenovirus vector in which a foreign peptide is introduced by a simple system into the fiber HI loop-coding gene of adenovirus; and provides a fiber-mutant adenovirus vector which is constructed by this method.

Abstract: In vitro methods for making a recombinant adenoviral genome, as well as kits for practicing the same and the recombinant adenovirus vectors produced thereby, are provided. In the subject methods, the subject genomes are prepared from first and second vectors. The first vector includes an adenoviral genome having an E region deletion and three different, non-adenoviral restriction endonuclease sites located in the E region. The second vector is a shuttle vector and includes an insertion nucleic acid flanked by two of the three different non-adenoviral vectors present in the first vector. Cleavage products are prepared from the first and second vectors using the appropriate restriction endonucleases. The resultant cleavage products are then ligated to produce the subject recombinant adenovirus genome. The subject adenoviral genomes find use in a variety of application, including as vectors for use in a variety of applications, including gene therapy.