Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of deriving pluripotent embryonic stem cells from mouse blastocysts or from primordial germ cells from a post-implantation mouse embryo, or of maintaining or growing pluripotent embryonic stem cells from a mouse, or of expanding human hematopoietic stem cells or human hematopoietic precursor cells. The methods include the step of cultivating the stem cells or precursor cells for at least one passage in a culture medium preconditioned by the rabbit fibroblast cell line Rab9 (ATCC catalogue CRL1414) and containing less than 0.1 ng/ml Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF).

Abstract: The present invention encompasses compositions for deriving, maintaining, and growing pluripotent and germ-line competent mammalian embryonic stem cells, and for deriving, maintaining, and growing adult human stem cells and/or adult early progenitor cells. Such compositions comprising a conditioned medium of a cell line expressing limited amounts of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF). The media of the present invention are used or for the generation of pluripotent and germ-line competent embryonic stem cells of mammals, and for the generation of adult human stem cells and/or adult early progenitor cells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of deriving pluripotent embryonic stem cells from mouse blastocysts or from primordial germ cells from a post-implantation mouse embryo, or of maintaining or growing pluripotent embryonic stem cells from a mouse, or of expanding human hematopoietic stem cells or human hematopoietic precursor cells. The methods include the step of cultivating the stem cells or precursor cells for at least one passage in a culture medium preconditioned by the rabbit fibroblast cell line Rab9 (ATCC catalogue CRL1414) and containing less than 0.1 ng/ml Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF).

Abstract: The current invention relates to encapsulation methods comprising alginate-based microencapsulation for the immune-protection and long-term functioning of biological material or therapeutics. The biological material or the therapeutics are encompassed by a membrane formed by jellifying an alginate polymer. Specifically, although by no means exclusively, the encapsulation system is intended for use in allo-or xenotransplantation. The membrane provides for a protective barrier of the encapsulated material, ensuring the longevity and preventing unwanted influences from outside the barrier, such as inflammatory reactions or immune-responses. The invention is furthermore directed to methods of producing and providing the encapsulated products for use in cell therapies. The therapeutic products obtained by the encapsulation method may provide a method for ameliorating of treating a range of conditions.

Abstract: The present invention describes novel compositions for deriving, maintaining and growing pluripotent and germ-line competent mammalian embryonic stem cells. The compositions of this invention refer to compositions comprising a 1) conditioned medium of a cell line expressing limited amounts of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), 2) conditioned medium from a cell line transfected with mammalian LIF and 3) a medium supplemented with recombinant rabbit LIF. The present invention describes novel compositions for deriving, maintaining and growing adult human stem cells and/or adult early progenitor cells, preferably under stroma-free conditions and without added LIF and/or cytokines or growth factors. The media of the present invention are used for the generation of pluripotent and germ-line competent embryonic stem cells of mammals of which these cells were not obtained up to now. The media of the present invention are used for the generation of adult human stem cells and/or adult early progenitor cells.

Abstract: Present invention demonstrates the derivation of ES cells from hybrid blastocysts, obtained by the mating of two different Mus species. The invention also relates to the use of these interspecies hybrid ES cells for the generation of genetically modified mammalian animals and for the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with species specific phenotypes.

Abstract: The present invention describes novel compositions for deriving, maintaining and growing pluripotent and germ-line competent mammalian embryonic stem cells. The compositions of this invention refers to compositions comprising a 1) conditioned medium of a cell line expressing limited amounts of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), 2) conditioned medium from a cell line transfected with mammalian LIF and 3) a medium supplemented with recombinant rabbit LIF. The present invention describes novel compositions for deriving, maintaining and growing adult human stem cells and/or adult early progenitor cells, preferably under stroma free conditions and without added LIF and/or cytokines or growth factors. The media of the present invention are used or for the generation of pluripotent and germ line competent embryonic stem cells of mammals of which these cells were not obtained up to now. The media of the present invention are used or for the generation of adult human stem cells and/or adult early progenitor cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel composition for maintaining and growing pluripotent and germ line competent mouse embryonic stem cells. The composition includes high glucose DMEM, non essential amino acids, glutamine, beta-mercaptoethanol and fetal bovine serum or the equivalents thereof, which is conditioned by an immortalized rabbit fibroblast cell line transduced with genomic rabbit Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF). The invention further relates to the use of the composition for producing embryonic stem cell lines and to the use of these cell lines in the production of transgenic animals.

Abstract: A novel medium for maintaining and growing pluripotent and germ line competent mammalian stem cells. The medium is conditioned by a fibroblast cell clone that produces leukemia inhibitory factor. The cells are placed in the medium so that, over a period of time, the leukemia inhibitory factor accumulates in the medium. A portion of the medium is then removed, and the quantity removed is replaced with unconditioned medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of neurological and physiological dysfunctions associated with Alzheimer's disease, more particularly to mutant embryonic stem (ES) cell lines characterized by no detectable &ggr;-secretase activity, derived from double presenilin (PS 1 and PS 2) knockout mice embryos. These cell lines can be used for in vitro screening of molecules and products involved in regulated intramembrane proteolysis of proteins such as the PP, the APP-like proteins, Notch, Ire-1p, and other integral membrane proteins to identify proteases responsible for the latter proteolysis, like gamma-secretases, or proteins involved in the control of these proteolytic activities. These mutant ES cell lines can be manipulated to differentiate into fibroblasts, neurons, or myocytes or can be used to generate novel transgenic mice. Moreover, a reporter system comprising a chimeric molecule to detect the above-mentioned intramembrane proteolysis or modulators thereof has been developed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rabbit embryonic stem (ES) cell line, comprising at least 70%, preferably 80 to 90% undifferentiated cells and obtainable by isolating the inner cell mass of 5.5 days postcoitus blastocysts and culturing them on feeder cells in rabbit ES medium. The invention further relates to further optimization of derivation and maintainance of the cell line and to the use thereof in inter alia generation of chimeric rabbits.