Abstract: A medium for stem cells according to the present invention contains at least one of carboxymethyl cellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidone as a water-soluble polymer. The content of carboxymethyl cellulose in the medium is preferably such that the final concentration thereof is 0.001 ?g/mL to 1 mg/mL. The content of polyvinylpyrrolidone in the medium is preferably such that the final concentration thereof is 0.05 ?g/mL to 2 mg/mL.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a material capable of further accelerating growth of pluripotent stem cells, such as pluripotent stem cells, without impairing pluripotency thereof. In other words, the invention is an agent for accelerating growth of pluripotent stem cells, containing a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a solvate thereof as an active ingredient; and is a method for culturing pluripotent stem cells, including culturing pluripotent stem cells in a culture medium that contains a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a solvate thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chromosome-stabilizing agent for stem cells containing a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, as an active ingredient. The present invention also provides a culture method for stem cells, including culturing stem cells in a culture medium containing a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a material capable of further accelerating growth of pluripotent stem cells, such as pluripotent stem cells, without impairing pluripotency thereof. In other words, the invention is an agent for accelerating growth of pluripotent stem cells, containing a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a solvate thereof as an active ingredient; and is a method for culturing pluripotent stem cells, including culturing pluripotent stem cells in a culture medium that contains a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a solvate thereof.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a material which can be safely ingested and which inhibits skin pigmentation. Therefore, the invention is a skin pigmentation inhibitor, containing a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a solvate thereof as an active ingredient; a health supplement which contains the skin pigmentation inhibitor and is ingested to inhibit skin pigmentation; and a method for inhibiting skin pigmentation, including ingesting the skin pigmentation inhibitor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for the administration of ?-NMN, which increases the secretion of adiponectin. The present disclosure also provides an adiponectin secretion enhancer comprising ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a solvate thereof, and a dietary supplement containing the aforementioned secretion enhancer, which can be ingested in order to increase the secretion of adiponectin. Also disclosed are methods of treating insulin resistance-related diseases such as of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, hypertension, obesity, and arteriosclerosis.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a material which can be safely ingested and which inhibits skin pigmentation. Therefore, the invention is a skin pigmentation inhibitor, containing a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a solvate thereof as an active ingredient; a health supplement which contains the skin pigmentation inhibitor and is ingested to inhibit skin pigmentation; and a method for inhibiting skin pigmentation, including ingesting the skin pigmentation inhibitor.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a material capable of further accelerating growth of pluripotent stem cells, such as pluripotent stem cells, without impairing pluripotency thereof. In other words, the invention is an agent for accelerating growth of pluripotent stem cells, containing a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a solvate thereof as an active ingredient; and is a method for culturing pluripotent stem cells, including culturing pluripotent stem cells in a culture medium that contains a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a solvate thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for the administration of ?-NMN, which increases the secretion of adiponectin. The present disclosure also provides an adiponectin secretion enhancer comprising ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a solvate thereof, and a dietary supplement containing the aforementioned secretion enhancer, which can he ingested in order to increase the secretion of adiponectin. Also disclosed are methods of treating insulin resistance-related diseases such as of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, hypertension, obesity, and arteriosclerosis.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for administration of an effective amount of RANKL-binding molecules that act on prechondrocytes and/or mesenchymal stem cells, accelerate cartilage differentiation, proliferation, and maturation of such cells, enhance chondrocyte differentiation, and induce chondrocyte proliferation to induce chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation or increase cartilage matrix production and a pharmaceutical composition used for inducing chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation or increasing cartilage matrix production.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cancer immunopotentiating agent containing a compound that blocks RANKL action. The present invention relates to a cancer immunopotentiating agent containing a RANKL antagonist such as an anti-RANKL neutralizing antibody as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a method for culturing cells in a system containing laminin-5. The method of the present invention is characterized by a culture system containing a polypeptide selected from a group consisting of: a protein in blood other than extracellular matrix proteins, which is, serum, serum albumin, prealbumin, immunoglobulin, ?-globulin, ?-globulin, ?1-antitrypsin (?1-AT), heptoglobin (Hp), ?2-macroglobulin (?2-M), ?-fetoprotein (AFP), transferrin, retinol-binding protein (RBP) or adiponectin; gelatin; a protein belonging to a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family; and peptone.

Abstract: Novel proteins and polypeptides binding to osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) (OCIF-binding molecules, OBMs) and nucleic acids encoding these proteins and polypeptides are provided. Processes for producing these proteins, polypeptides, and nucleic acid molecules by genetic engineering are provided. Medicinal compounds are provided which comprise proteins and nucleic acids according to the invention, as well as proteins which bind to OBM, including anti-OBM antibodies. These compounds may be used for the treatment of bone disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an osteopenia animal model by RANKL administration and an osteopenia animal model. Also, a method for producing an osteopenia animal model, comprising administering soluble RANKL or a fused protein of soluble RANKL with an epitope tag to a non-human animal so as to promote vivo osteoclast differentiation and activation in the non-human animal, and an osteopenia animal model produced by the method are provided.

Abstract: A novel method for detection of an inflammatory disease and a novel composition for prevention or treatment of an inflammatory disease are provided. The method for detection of an inflammatory disease comprises using RANKL and/or OPG as a marker in a biological sample. The composition for prevention or treatment of an inflammatory disease comprises RANKL and/or M-CSF as an active ingredient.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for administration of an effective amount of RANKL-binding molecules that act on prechondrocytes and/or mesenchymal stem cells, accelerate cartilage differentiation, proliferation, and maturation of such cells, enhance chondrocyte differentiation, and induce chondrocyte proliferation to induce chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation or increase cartilage matrix production and a pharmaceutical composition used for inducing chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation or increasing cartilage matrix production.

Abstract: For efficient proliferation of pluripotent stem cells in a system free from any animal-derived material such as feeder cells or serum, the present invention provides a method for proliferation of pluripotent stem cells, which comprises culturing the pluripotent stem cells in a medium free from both feeder cells and serum in a system containing laminin-5.

Abstract: The present invention provides an osteogenesis enhancer comprising a molecule capable of acting on RANKL that enhances differentiation, proliferation, maturation, or calcification of osteoblasts or cells capable of differentiating into osteoblasts. A pharmaceutical composition for treatment or prevention of bone metabolism diseases associated with osteopenia, which comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound that acts on RANKL located on osteoblasts or cells capable of differentiating into osteoblasts and promotes differentiation, proliferation, maturation, or calcification of osteoblasts or cells capable of differentiating into osteoblasts is provided.

Abstract: Novel proteins and polypeptides binding to osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) (OCIF-binding molecules, OBMs) and nucleic acids encoding these proteins and polypeptides are provided. Processes for producing these proteins, polypeptides, and nucleic acid molecules by genetic engineering are provided. Medicinal compounds are provided which comprise proteins and nucleic acids according to the invention, as well as proteins which bind to OBM, including anti-OBM antibodies. These compounds may be used for the treatment of bone disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reagent containing a fused protein of RANKL with an epitope tag that has improved effects of differentiating and activating osteoclasts and improved preservation stability compared with the case of using RANKL alone, and an agent for differentiating and activating osteoclasts that can be used in vitro or in vivo, containing, as an active ingredient, a fused protein of soluble RANKL with an epitope tag peptide.