Abstract: A method of producing renal progenitor cells from pluripotent stem cells involves culturing pluripotent stem cells in a medium containing FGF2, BMP4, a GSK-3? inhibitor, and retinoic acid or a derivative thereof, culturing the resulting cells in a medium containing FGF2, a GSK-3? inhibitor, and BMP7, culturing the resulting cells in a medium containing FGF2, a GSK-3? inhibitor, BMP7, and a TGF? inhibitor, culturing the resulting cells in a medium containing FGF2, a GSK-3? inhibitor, BMP7, activin, and a ROCK (Rho-kinase) inhibitor, culturing the resulting cells in a medium containing retinoic acid or a derivative thereof, and FGF9, and culturing the resulting cells in a medium containing a GSK-3? inhibitor and FGF9, to induce renal progenitor cells from intermediate mesodermal cells.

Abstract: A method for acquiring and producing high-purity renal progenitor cells from a renal progenitor cell population into which pluripotent stem cells are induced to differentiate, by identifying a cell surface antigen marker specific to renal progenitor cells. The high-purity renal progenitor cells can be used in regenerative medicine for renal diseases, such as renal failure.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a method for producing renal progenitor cells from intermediate mesoderm cells, which comprises a step of culturing intermediate mesoderm cells in a medium containing a TGF? signaling activator(s) and a BMP inhibitor(s); the renal progenitor cells produced by the method; a pharmaceutical composition comprising the renal progenitor cells; and a therapeutic drug for kidney diseases comprising the renal progenitor cells.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for stably producing alveolar epithelial progenitor cells from pluripotent stem cells, including steps of culturing pluripotent stem cells in (1) a medium containing activin A and a GSK3? inhibitor, (2) a medium containing a BMP inhibitor and a TGF? inhibitor, and (3) a medium containing BMP4, retinoic acid, and a GSK3? inhibitor.

Abstract: A method for acquiring and producing high-purity renal progenitor cells from a renal progenitor cell population into which pluripotent stem cells are induced to differentiate, by identifying a cell surface antigen marker specific to renal progenitor cells. The disclosed method may include, for example, the steps of: (i) culturing the pluripotent stem cells under conditions that induce differentiation into renal progenitor cells; and (ii) sorting a cell population from the cells obtained at step (i), by using at least one cell surface marker selected from the group consisting of CD9(?), CD55(?), CD106(+), CD140a(+), CD140b(+), CD165(+), CD271(+) and CD326(?).

Abstract: A method for producing hepatocytes from hepatoblasts is provided. The method includes the step of culturing the hepatoblasts in a medium containing a compound selected from the group consisting of pregnenolone and an adrenergic agonist. The hepatoblasts can be obtained by culturing endodermal cells in a medium containing DMSO, and the endodermal cells can be obtained by culturing pluripotent stem cells in a medium containing Activin A and a GSK-3? inhibitor. Accordingly, a method for producing hepatocytes from pluripotent stem cells is also provided by employing the method of the present invention.

Abstract: Provided is a method for generating pancreatic bud cells, having the step of culturing PDX1+/NKX6.1? cells in a medium containing KGF, EGF and a BMP inhibitor. The culturing step may be performed in suspension cultures or in adherent cultures. When the cells are cultured in adherent cultures, the cells may be cultured in a medium further containing a ROCK inhibitor or a nonmuscle myosin II inhibitor.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for inducing the differentiation of pancreatic precursor cells into exocrine pancreatic cells. The above object is achieved by providing a method for inducing the differentiation of pancreatic precursor cells into exocrine pancreatic cells using a culture solution containing a histone deacetylase inhibitor and/or a ligand protein for a Notch signal, and a protein kinase C activator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inducing differentiation of a human pluripotent stem cell into an intermediate mesoderm cell without the use of a growth factor. Such method comprises performing culture in a medium containing a specific compound, so as to induce differentiation of a human pluripotent stem cell into an intermediate mesoderm cell.

Abstract: Provided is a method for inducing pancreatic hormone-producing cells from pancreatic progenitor cells efficiently. The method comprises a step of culturing the cells in a culture medium comprising sodium cromoglicate.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of comparing disease markers obtained from subject samples to test for, detect, or diagnose autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and a disease marker for such disease. The method for detecting autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and the method for screening for an agent for treatment or prevention of such disease comprise detecting a gene that is expressed specifically in cases of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, including IGFBP7.

Abstract: Provided is a method for inducing pancreatic hormone-producing cells from pancreatic progenitor cells efficiently. The method comprises a step of culturing the cells in a culture medium comprising sodium cromoglicate.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a method for producing renal progenitor cells from intermediate mesoderm cells, which comprises a step of culturing intermediate mesoderm cells in a medium containing a TGF? signaling activator(s) and a BMP inhibitor(s); the renal progenitor cells produced by the method; a pharmaceutical composition comprising the renal progenitor cells; and a therapeutic drug for kidney diseases comprising the renal progenitor cells.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for inducing the differentiation of erythropoietin-producing cells from human pluripotent stem cells. The above object is achieved by providing a method for inducing the differentiation of erythropoietin-producing cells from human pluripotent stem cells using a medium containing a specific growth factor and a specific compound.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for inducing the differentiation of pancreatic precursor cells into exocrine pancreatic cells. The above object is achieved by providing a method for inducing the differentiation of pancreatic precursor cells into exocrine pancreatic cells using a culture solution containing a histone deacetylase inhibitor and/or a ligand protein for a Notch signal, and a protein kinase C activator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to: a method for producing an intermediate mesoderm cell from a human pluripotent stem cell, comprising a step of culturing the human pluripotent stem cell in a medium containing Activin A and Wnt or a functional equivalent of Wnt and a step of culturing cells in a medium containing BMP and Wnt or a functional equivalent of Wnt; to a method for producing a metanephric cell from the intermediate mesoderm cell produced by the first method; to a human pluripotent stem cell having a foreign reporter gene in the chromosome wherein the gene is expressed interlocked with the expression of endogenous OSR1; to a method for screening for an inducer for differentiation into intermediate mesoderm using the human pluripotent stem cell; and to a kit for inducing the differentiation into an intermediate mesoderm cell.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for inducing the differentiation of erythropoietin-producing cells from human pluripotent stem cells. The above object is achieved by providing a method for inducing the differentiation of erythropoietin-producing cells from human pluripotent stem cells using a medium containing a specific growth factor and a specific compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inducing differentiation of a human pluripotent stem cell into an intermediate mesoderm cell without the use of a growth factor. Such method comprises performing culture in a medium containing a specific compound, so as to induce differentiation of a human pluripotent stem cell into an intermediate mesoderm cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing pluripotent stem cells, which comprises the steps of introducing an artificial chromosome having a genetically modified chromosome fragment as a targeting vector, and determining the number of some or all copies of the introduced artificial chromosome using an SNP array, so as to select pluripotent stem cells modified by homologous recombination, and, a method for detecting pluripotent stem cells genetically modified by homologous recombination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of examining polycystic kidney disease or a complication of polycystic kidney disease using a gene(s) selected from the group consisting of NTNG1, POSTN, TNC, KAL1, BST1, ACAT2, INSIG1, SCD, HSD3B1, KRT7, USP40, SULT1E1, BMP6, CD274, CTGF, E2F7, EDN1, FAM43A, FRMD3, MMP10, MYEOV, NR2F1, NRCAM, PDCK1, PLXNA2, SLC30A3, SNAI1, SPOCD1, MMP1, TFPI2, HMGA2, KRTAP4-7, KRTAP4-8, KRTAP4-9, MYPN, RPPH1, and SIAE, and a method of screening for a therapeutic agent or a preventive agent therefore, and further vascular endothelial cells or vascular mural cells obtained via differentiation induction from iPS cells formed from a somatic cell of a subject suffered from polycystic kidney disease and having cerebral aneurysm as a complication.