Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for preserving neural tissue for several hours to several weeks without freezing, a preservation solution therefor, a transport method for neural tissue in accordance with the method and using the preservation solution, and a composition for transplantation. The preservation method for neural tissue, comprising preserving neural tissue in a preservation solution having a potassium ion concentration of more than 0 mM and less than 115 mM at a preservation temperature of 8° C. to 30° C. The preservation solution having a potassium ion concentration of more than 0 mM and less than 115 mM, for preserving neural tissue derived from pluripotent stem cells at a preservation temperature of 8° C. to 30° C.

Abstract: A sphere-like cell aggregate according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a core part containing neural retina; and a covering part continuously or discontinuously covering at least a portion of a surface of the core part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a retinal pigment epithelial cell from a human pluripotent stem cell, and a method of treating or preventing a retinal disease by using the produced cell. The retinal pigment epithelial cell is prepared by (a) inducing differentiation of a human pluripotent stem cell into a pigment cell by adhesion cultivation of a human pluripotent stem cell in a medium containing a Nodal signal inhibitor and a Wnt signal inhibitor in the absence of a feeder cell to give a culture containing the pigment cell, (b) subjecting the obtained culture to further adhesion culture to give a culture containing a pigment cell colony, and (c) isolating the pigment cell from the obtained culture and culturing the cell to give a retinal pigment epithelial cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a retinal pigment epithelial cell from a human pluripotent stem cell, and a method of treating or preventing a retinal disease by using the produced cell. The retinal pigment epithelial cell is prepared by (a) inducing differentiation of a human pluripotent stem cell into a pigment cell by adhesion cultivation of a human pluripotent stem cell in a medium containing a Nodal signal inhibitor and a Wnt signal inhibitor in the absence of a feeder cell to give a culture containing the pigment cell, (b) subjecting the obtained culture to further adhesion culture to give a culture containing a pigment cell colony, and (c) isolating the pigment cell from the obtained culture and culturing the cell to give a retinal pigment epithelial cell.

Abstract: The invention provides a cell and biotissue transporting container for transporting cells or biotissues while maintaining their cultured state. A cell/biotissue transporting container A10 includes a base member 1 with an opening 110 at an upper end and a first tubular portion 11 extending vertically, a lid body 2 including a top plate portion 21 to close the opening 110 and a second tubular portion 22 extending from a peripheral edge of the top plate portion 21 in the thickness direction to fit onto the first tubular portion 11, and a container body 3, formed separately from the base member 1 using a flexible material, where the container body includes a bottom wall portion 31, a tubular side wall portion 32 rising from a peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion 31 and inserted into the opening 110, and a flange 33 extending outward from an upper edge of the side wall portion 32.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a retinal cell or a retinal tissue, including the following steps (1)-(3): (1) a first step of culturing pluripotent stem cells in the absence of feeder cells in a medium containing 1) a TGF? family signal transduction pathway inhibiting substance and/or a Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway activating substance, and 2) a factor for maintaining undifferentiated state, (2) a second step of culturing the cells obtained in the first step in suspension in a medium containing a Wnt signal transduction pathway inhibiting substance to form a cell aggregate, and (3) a third step of culturing the aggregate obtained in the second step in suspension in the presence or absence of a Wnt signal transduction pathway inhibiting substance in a medium containing a BMP signal transduction pathway activating substance to obtain an aggregate containing a retinal cell or a retinal tissue.

Abstract: A cell population comprising Corin- and/or Lrtm1-positive cells was produced by the following steps (1) and (2), from which Corin positive and/or Lrtm1 positive cells are collected using a substance that binds to Corin and/or a substance that binds to Lrtm1, and dopaminergic neuron progenitor cells are produced by performing suspension culture of the Corin positive and/or Lrtm1 positive cells in a culture solution containing one or more nutritional factors: (1) a step of performing adhesion culture of pluripotent stem cells in a medium for maintaining undifferentiated state containing a Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signal stimulant, and an undifferentiated state-maintaining factor in the absence of feeder cells but in the presence of an extracellular matrix, and (2) a step of culturing the cell population obtained in the step (1) in a culture solution containing one or more differentiation-inducing factors.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for treating ophthalmic diseases and a screening method for an agent for treating ophthalmic diseases and the like. The present invention also provides a method for predicting rejection associated with transplantation of retinal pigment epithelial cell to patients with ophthalmic diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a cell sheet including the following steps (1) seeding and culturing retinal pigment epithelial cells on a collagen gel to form a cell sheet composed of the retinal pigment epithelial cells, and (2) degrading the collagen gel with collagenase to detach the cell sheet composed of the retinal pigment epithelial cells, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for cutting a cell sheet S, which includes cutting the cell sheet S that is cultured in the inside of a container 4 which has accommodated a culture medium M therein, by a cutting device 3 that emits a laser L. The cutting method includes: removing the culture medium M from the container 4 and also sealing the container 4 by a lid portion 13 provided with a transmission part made from a material which allows the laser L to pass through, in the inside of an aseptic room 2 that has been kept in an aseptic condition; taking out the container 4 sealed by the lid portion 13, from the aseptic room 2, and moving the container to the cutting device 3 that is provided in the outside of the aseptic room 2; and in the cutting device 3, passing the laser L through the transmission part of the lid portion 13, and cutting the cell sheet S by the laser L. The method enables the cell sheet S to be cut in such a state that the aseptic condition is kept.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a cell sheet including the following steps (1) seeding and culturing retinal pigment epithelial cells on a collagen gel to form a cell sheet composed of the retinal pigment epithelial cells, and (2) degrading the collagen gel with collagenase to detach the cell sheet composed of the retinal pigment epithelial cells, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing retinal cells or a retinal tissue, comprising the following steps (1)-(3): (1) a first step of culturing human pluripotent stem cells in the absence of feeder cells and in a medium comprising a factor for maintaining undifferentiated state, (2) a second step of culturing the pluripotent stem cells obtained in the first step in suspension in the presence of a Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway activating substance to form a cell aggregate, and (3) a third step of culturing the aggregate obtained in the second step in suspension in the presence of a 1) a BMP signal transduction pathway activating substance to obtain an aggregate containing retinal cells or a retinal tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing neural cells or a neural tissue, including the following steps (1)-(3): (1) a first step of culturing pluripotent stem cells in the absence of feeder cells and in a medium containing 1) a TGF? family signal transduction pathway inhibiting substance and/or a Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway activating substance, and 2) a factor for maintaining undifferentiated state, (2) a second step of culturing the cells obtained in the first step in suspension to form a cell aggregate, and (3) a third step of culturing the aggregate obtained in the second step in suspension in the presence or absence of a differentiation-inducing factor to obtain an aggregate containing neural cells or a neural tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for treating ophthalmic diseases and a screening method for an agent for treating ophthalmic diseases and the like. The present invention also provides a method for predicting rejection associated with transplantation of retinal pigment epithelial cell to patients with ophthalmic diseases.

Abstract: Provided are a production method of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells that improves differentiation induction efficiency of pluripotent stem cells into RPE cells, and can provide highly pure RPE cells by a simple and easy operation in a short period, a culture method of RPE cells that can stably grow and culture a cell, a toxicity/efficacy evaluation method using RPE cells useful for transplantation therapy, and a therapeutic drug for a retinal disease. The invention relates to a production method of RPE cells, comprising adhesion culture of human pluripotent stem cells using a culture substrate coated with a laminin-E8 fragment, a culture method of RPE cells, comprising adhesion culture of RPE cells using a culture substrate coated with a laminin-E8 fragment, a toxicity or efficacy evaluation method using RPE cells obtained by producing or culturing by the method, and a therapeutic drug for a retinal disease, containing the RPE cells.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a handpiece, a tank portion for housing a fluid, a plunger that changes a volume or pressure of an inside of the tank portion to suction the fluid into the tank portion or discharge the fluid from the tank portion, and an operating unit for operating the plunger. The handpiece includes a grip portion at the front end, and an operation member of the operating unit is disposed on a side of the grip portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing primate retinal progenitor cells, comprising culturing primate embryonic stem cells as suspended aggregates in a serum-free medium, and obtaining retinal progenitor cells from the culture. The present invention further provides a method of producing photoreceptor precursor cells, comprising culturing isolated retinal progenitor cells differentiated from embryonic stem cells, under adhesive conditions, in the presence of a gamma secretase inhibitor, and obtaining a photoreceptor precursor from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a cell sheet comprising a retinal pigment epithelial cell layer and a vascular forming cell layer composed of stem cells having vascular formation ability or blood vessel constituting cells, comprising a step of laminating the retinal pigment epithelial cell layer and the vascular forming cell layer, and a cell sheet obtained by said method. Furthermore, the present invention provides a cell sheet for transplantation, comprising a cell layer formed with retinal pigment epithelial cells obtained by inducing differentiation of stem cells or progenitor cells ex vivo, a basement membrane secreted from said cells, and a vascular forming cell layer composed of stem cells having vascular formation ability or blood vessel constituting cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a cell sheet including the following steps (1) seeding and culturing retinal pigment epithelial cells on a collagen gel to form a cell sheet composed of the retinal pigment epithelial cells, and (2) degrading the collagen gel with collagenase to detach the cell sheet composed of the retinal pigment epithelial cells, and the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a retinal pigment epithelial cell from a human pluripotent stem cell, and a method of treating or preventing a retinal disease by using the produced cell. The retinal pigment epithelial cell is prepared by (a) inducing differentiation of a human pluripotent stem cell into a pigment cell by adhesion cultivation of a human pluripotent stem cell in a medium containing a Nodal signal inhibitor and a Wnt signal inhibitor in the absence of a feeder cell to give a culture containing the pigment cell, (b) subjecting the obtained culture to further adhesion culture to give a culture containing a pigment cell colony, and (c) isolating the pigment cell from the obtained culture and culturing the cell to give a retinal pigment epithelial cell.