Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the use of laminin-521 in obtaining retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Pluripotent human embryonic stem cells are cultured on plates coated with recombinant laminin-521 (laminin-11), in totally defined and xeno-free conditions. A first cell culture medium contains a growth factor, and a second cell culture medium does not contain growth factor. The stem cells are first exposed to the first cell culture medium, then exposed to the second cell culture medium for a longer time period. After a number of weeks, clinical grade RPE cells are obtained from the stem cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the use of laminin-521 in obtaining retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Pluripotent human embryonic stem cells are cultured on plates coated with recombinant laminin-521 (laminin-11), in totally defined and xeno-free conditions. A first cell culture medium contains a growth factor, and a second cell culture medium does not contain growth factor. The stem cells are first exposed to the first cell culture medium, then exposed to the second cell culture medium for a longer time period. After a number of weeks, clinical grade RPE cells are obtained from the stem cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for culturing human epidermal keratinocytes. When keratinocytes are cultured on plates coated with a laminin containing an alpha-4 chain or an alpha-5 chain, in a xeno-free, chemically defined cell culture medium, they expand efficiently in vitro. Useful cell culture kits for culturing keratinocytes are also described herein, as are methods of using such cells for treatment of burns or chronic wounds.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for culturing human epidermal keratinocytes. When keratinocytes are cultured on plates coated with a laminin containing an alpha-4 chain or an alpha-5 chain, in a xeno-free, chemically defined cell culture medium, they expand efficiently in vitro. Useful cell culture kits for culturing keratinocytes are also described herein, as are methods of using such cells for treatment of burns or chronic wounds.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of maintaining the phenotype of differentiated cells. Generally, the natural environment of the body is replicated for the differentiated cell. The differentiated cell is plated on a cell culture substrate comprising a laminin, such as laminin-521 or laminin-511. The substrate may also contain a cadherin. This maintains the phenotype of the differentiated cell.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of maintaining the phenotype of differentiated cells. Generally, the natural environment of the body is replicated for the differentiated cell. The differentiated cell is plated on a cell culture substrate comprising a laminin, such as laminin-521 or laminin-511. The substrate may also contain a cadherin. This maintains the phenotype of the differentiated cell.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of differentiating cardiomyocyte progenitor cells and mature cardiomyocyte cells from pluripotent stem cells. The methods may include differentiating pluripotent stems cells on a substrate including (i) laminin-511 or 521 and (ii) laminin 221. The mature cardiomyocyte cells produced by the method may form a human heart muscle cell line for use in regenerative cardiology.

Abstract: Retinal progenitors and mature photoreceptor cells can be produced by differentiating human embryonic stem cells on a surface having a laminin matrix thereon made of two laminins One laminin is laminin-521, and the other laminin is either laminin-323 or laminin-523. Stem cells plated on this substrate can be differentiated using various cell culture mediums to obtain the retinal progenitors and mature photoreceptor cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the use of laminin-521 in obtaining retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Pluripotent human embryonic stem cells are cultured on plates coated with recombinant laminin-521 (laminin-11), in totally defined and xeno-free conditions. A first cell culture medium contains a growth factor, and a second cell culture medium does not contain growth factor. The stem cells are first exposed to the first cell culture medium, then exposed to the second cell culture medium for a longer time period. After a number of weeks, clinical grade RPE cells are obtained from the stem cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of differentiating cardiomyocyte progenitor cells and mature cardiomyocyte cells from pluripotent stem cells. The methods may include differentiating pluripotent stems cells on a substrate including (i) laminin-511 or 521 and (ii) laminin 221. The mature cardiomyocyte cells produced by the method may form a human heart muscle cell line for use in regenerative cardiology.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the use of laminin-521 in obtaining retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Pluripotent human embryonic stem cells are cultured on plates coated with recombinant laminin-521 (laminin-11), in totally defined and xeno-free conditions. A first cell culture medium contains a growth factor, and a second cell culture medium does not contain growth factor. The stem cells are first exposed to the first cell culture medium, then exposed to the second cell culture medium for a longer time period. After a number of weeks, clinical grade RPE cells are obtained from the stem cells.

Abstract: Compositions and processes for culturing human stem cells in vitro in an undifferentiated state are disclosed. In this regard, human embryonic stem cells proliferated and maintained their pluripotency when cultured on plates coated with recombinant laminin-10 (laminin-511).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for culturing human epidermal keratinocytes. When keratinocytes are cultured on plates coated with a laminin containing an alpha-4 chain or an alpha-5 chain, in a xeno-free, chemically defined cell culture medium, they expand efficiently in vitro. Useful cell culture kits for culturing keratinocytes are also described herein, as are methods of using such cells for treatment of burns or chronic wounds.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of differentiating cardiomyocyte progenitor cells and mature cardiomyocyte cells from pluripotent stem cells. The methods may include differentiating pluripotent stems cells on a substrate including (i) laminin-511 or 521 and (ii) laminin-221. The cardiomyocyte progenitor cells and mature cardiomyocyte cells produced by the methods may form a human heart muscle cell line for use in regenerative cardiology. Also described are methods of identifying functional cardiomyocyte progenitor cells and their use in therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure related to isolated laminin-521, methods for making recombinant laminin-521, host cells that express recombinant laminin-521, and compositions containing laminin-521. Laminin-521 can maintain stem cells in vitro pluripotency, enable self-renewal, and enable single cell survival of human embryonic stem cells. When pluripotent human embryonic stem cells are cultured on plates coated with recombinant laminin-521 (laminin-11), in the absence of differentiation inhibitors or feeder cells, the embryonic stem cells proliferate and maintain their pluripotency. It has also been discovered that human recombinant laminin-521 (laminin-11) provides single cell survival of stem cells after complete dissociation into a single cell suspension. Useful cell culture mediums containing at most 3.9 ng/ml of beta fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are also described herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of differentiating cardiomyocyte progenitor cells and mature cardiomyocyte cells from pluripotent stem cells. The methods may include differentiating pluripotent stems cells on a substrate including (i) laminin-511 or 521 and (ii) laminin-221. The cardiomyocyte progenitor cells and mature cardiomyocyte cells produced by the methods may form a human heart muscle cell line for use in regenerative cardiology. Also described are methods of identifying functional cardiomyocyte progenitor cells and their use in therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure related to isolated laminin-521, methods for making recombinant laminin-521, host cells that express recombinant laminin-521, and compositions containing laminin-521. Laminin-521 can maintain stem cells in vitro pluripotency, enable self-renewal, and enable single cell survival of human embryonic stem cells. When pluripotent human embryonic stem cells are cultured on plates coated with recombinant laminin-521 (laminin-11), in the absence of differentiation inhibitors or feeder cells, the embryonic stem cells proliferate and maintain their pluripotency. It has also been discovered that human recombinant laminin-521 (laminin-11) provides single cell survival of stem cells after complete dissociation into a single cell suspension. Useful cell culture mediums containing at most 3.9 ng/ml of beta fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are also described herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to methods for forming a stem cell bank. The methods include obtaining a first stem cell from a multi-cell fertilized embryo, expanding the first stem cell into two or more descendant stem cells, and storing at least one of the descendant stem cells to form the stem cell bank. Also disclosed is a kit that can be used for making the stem cell bank during in vitro fertilization. If desired, the HLA serotype of the stem cells can be determined prior to storage.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the use of laminin-521. Laminin-521 can maintain stem cells in vitro pluripotency, enable self-renewal, and enable single cell survival of human embryonic stem cells. When pluripotent human embryonic stem cells are cultured on plates coated with recombinant laminin-521 (laminin-11), in the absence of differentiation inhibitors or feeder cells, the embryonic stem cells proliferate and maintain their pluripotency. Methods of enhancing genetic diagnosis by expanding a single stem cell on laminin-521 prior to PCR amplification are disclosed herein.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods of preventing or treating metabolic syndrome in a subject by administering an effective amount of an inhibitor of laminin ?4 expression, laminin ?4 activity, or both.