Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, which method comprises selecting a laminin or a fragment thereof based on binding affinity for the pluripotent stem cells and inducing differentiation of the pluripotent stem cells in the presence of the laminin or a fragment thereof. Here, the binding affinity for cells can be assessed by time-course observation of the survival rate and motility of the cells. According to the present invention, a cell population containing any desired proportion of differentiated cells can be produced from pluripotent stem cells in a simple manner. The cell population obtained by this production method is very useful for cell therapy-based treatment strategies for diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inducing the differentiation of corneal epithelial cells from pluripotent stem cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for autonomously differentiating pluripotent stem cells, such as human iPS cells, into ectodermal cell lineage in a serum-free medium without using feeder cells and inducing the differentiation of the resultant ocular surface ectodermal lineage cells into corneal epithelial cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a corneal epithelial cell population for the fabrication of corneal epithelial cell sheets for transplantation, the method comprising the steps of: (1) preparing a cell population containing corneal epithelial cells; (2) subjecting the cell population prepared in step (1) to magnetic-activated cell sorting and collecting CD200-negative/SSEA-4-positive cells; and (3) bringing the cells collected in step (2) into contact with a laminin selected from the group consisting of a laminin having an ?3 chain, a laminin having an ?4 chain and a laminin having an ?5 chain, or an E8 fragment thereof, and collecting cells adherent thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inducing the differentiation of corneal epithelial cells from pluripotent stem cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for autonomously differentiating pluripotent stem cells, such as human iPS cells, into ectodermal cell lineage in a serum-free medium without using feeder cells and inducing the differentiation of the resultant ocular surface ectodermal lineage cells into corneal epithelial cells.

Abstract: Provided is a method for inducing differentiation into conjunctival epithelial cells, conjunctival goblet cells, and conjunctival epithelial stem and progenitor cells, the method comprising culturing colonies of pluripotent stem cells in a medium containing an epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling activator to induce differentiation of the pluripotent stem cells. The present invention enables differentiation of pluripotent stem cells including iPS cells into conjunctival epithelial cells, conjunctival goblet cells, and conjunctival epithelial stem and progenitor cells and therefore is very useful for, for example, basic research on conjunctival epithelial cells and conjunctival goblet cells, regenerative therapy for intractable ocular surface diseases, and research related to the diseases.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a novel therapeutic agent that is effective against diseases involving stratified squamous epithelial cells such as dry eye syndrome. The present invention is an agent for promoting normal differentiation/maturation of stratified squamous epithelial cells, which comprises a secretion of mesenchymal stem cells. It is preferable that the secretions not include animal serum, that the mesenchymal stem cells be adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells, or bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and that the stratified squamous epithelial cells be at least one selected from the group consisting of corneal epithelial cells, conjunctival epithelial cells, epidermal keratinocytes, oral epithelial cells, epiglottic epithelial cells, esophageal epithelial cells, vaginal epithelial cells, vocal fold epithelial cells, nasal epithelial cells, and nasal vestibular epithelial cells.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a stem cell-derived lacrimal gland tissue, the method comprising isolating SSEA4 and CD104 double positive cells from a self-formed ectodermal autonomous multi-zone (SEAM) cell population derived from pluripotent stem cells and three-dimensionally culturing the isolated cells in a medium with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and a ROCK inhibitor to produce a cell population expressing a lacrimal gland-related protein. The present invention provides a lacrimal gland organoid produced from pluripotent stem cells including iPS cells and thus is very useful for cell-based regenerative therapy for lacrimal gland-related diseases and cell-based research on the diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, which method comprises selecting a laminin or a fragment thereof based on binding affinity for the pluripotent stem cells and inducing differentiation of the pluripotent stem cells in the presence of the laminin or a fragment thereof. Here, the binding affinity for cells can be assessed by time-course observation of the survival rate and motility of the cells. According to the present invention, a cell population containing any desired proportion of differentiated cells can be produced from pluripotent stem cells in a simple manner. The cell population obtained by this production method is very useful for cell therapy-based treatment strategies for diseases.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for determining anatomical sites of a body surface tissue. Provided is a method for determining an anatomical site of origin of a body surface tissue specimen, the method comprising the steps of: (A) selecting at least 8 kinds of genes from the group consisting of a Hox gene family and a Pax6 gene; (B) measuring the expression levels of the genes selected in the above (A) in the body surface tissue specimen; and (C) determining the anatomical site of origin of the body surface tissue specimen based on the expression levels or a combination of the expression levels measured in the above (B).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inducing a keratin 12-positive corneal epithelioid cell from a surface ectoderm-derived cell. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for inducing a keratin 12-positive corneal epithelioid cell, comprising introducing PAX6, KLF4, and OCT4 into a surface ectoderm-derived cell, such as an oral mucosal epithelial cell, and a corneal epithelioid cell induced by the method.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes an illumination device including an arch-like lighting unit that is provided around an inspection target in a circular arc form and emits light toward the inspection target, imaging devices that capture images of a light reflection surface of the inspection target by which the light emitted from the arch-like lighting unit is reflected, and a determination device that inspects the light reflection surface of the inspection target on the basis of the images captured by the imaging devices. As a result, the inspection apparatus provides an effect of preventing the apparatus from being increased in size.

Abstract: A lighting device includes: a variable voltage source; a transistor which controls a current flowing through a light-emitting element; and a control circuit which causes the transistor to pass a current corresponding to a received instruction for a dimming level through the light-emitting element. When the received instruction instructs at least a predetermined dimming Level, the control circuit causes a voltage drop in the transistor to become a first voltage by controlling the variable voltage source, and when the received instruction instructs a dimming level less than the predetermined dimming level, the control circuit causes the voltage drop to become a second voltage higher than the first voltage, by controlling the variable voltage source.

Abstract: A lighting device includes: a variable voltage source; a transistor which controls a current flowing through a light-emitting element; and a control circuit which causes the transistor to pass a current corresponding to a received instruction for a dimming level through the light-emitting element. When the received instruction instructs at least a predetermined dimming level, the control circuit causes a voltage drop in the transistor to become a first voltage by controlling the variable voltage source, and when the received instruction instructs a dimming level less than the predetermined dimming level, the control circuit causes the voltage drop to become a second voltage higher than the first voltage, by controlling the variable voltage source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inducing a keratin 12-positive corneal epithelioid cell from a surface ectoderm-derived cell. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for inducing a keratin 12-positive corneal epithelioid cell, comprising introducing PAX6, KLF4, and OCT4 into a surface ectoderm-derived cell, such as an oral mucosal epithelial cell, and a corneal epithelioid cell induced by the method.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes an illumination device including an arch-like lighting unit that is provided around an inspection target in a circular arc form and emits light toward the inspection target, imaging devices that capture images of a light reflection surface of the inspection target by which the light emitted from the arch-like lighting unit is reflected, and a determination device that inspects the light reflection surface of the inspection target on the basis of the images captured by the imaging devices. As a result, the inspection apparatus provides an effect of preventing the apparatus from being increased in size.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inducing the differentiation of corneal epithelial cells from pluripotent stem cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for autonomously differentiating pluripotent stem cells, such as human iPS cells, into ectodermal cell lineage in a serum-free medium without using feeder cells and inducing the differentiation of the resultant ocular surface ectodermal lineage cells into corneal epithelial cells.

Abstract: When a controller receives an external instruction for initial setting, the controller gives image sensors an instruction regarding lighting. When an image sensor among the image sensors receives the instruction regarding lighting from the controller, the image sensor performs lighting control in accordance with the instruction regarding lighting on a luminaire among luminaires to determine (i) a relative position of the luminaire relative to the image sensor and (ii) a relative position of the image sensor relative to a different image sensor among the image sensors. The controller determines positions of the image sensors and positions of the luminaires by collecting the relative positions of the image sensors and the relative positions of the luminaires determined by the image sensors.

Abstract: When a controller receives an external instruction for initial setting, the controller gives image sensors an instruction regarding lighting. When an image sensor among the image sensors receives the instruction regarding lighting from the controller, the image sensor performs lighting control in accordance with the instruction regarding lighting on a luminaire among luminaires to determine (i) a relative position of the luminaire relative to the image sensor and (ii) a relative position of the image sensor relative to a different image sensor among the image sensors. The controller determines positions of the image sensors and positions of the luminaires by collecting the relative positions of the image sensors and the relative positions of the luminaires determined by the image sensors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing corneal endothelial progenitor cells by adherent culturing a cell population isolated from corneal endothelial cell tissue at a low density by using a serum-free medium. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing corneal endothelial cells by differentiation-inducing the corneal endothelial progenitor cells obtained by the aforementioned method. According to the present invention, corneal endothelial progenitor cells can be selectively grown from a corneal tissue-derived cell population, and corneal endothelial cells obtained by inducing the corneal endothelial progenitor cells can be applied to treatment of corneal endothelial diseases. As a result, problems of corneal transplantation such as shortage of donors and occurrence of rejection can be solved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tissue preservation solution that has good quality for preservation of tissues, organs and cells, and is useful in the fields of regenerative medicine, transplantation medicine, etc. The tissue preservation solution of the present invention comprises a compound having a Nrf2 activating effect. Preferable compounds having a Nrf2 activating effect are electrophiles, and in particular, ebselen and tert-butylhydroquinone. A preferable basal solution of the tissue preservation solution is Hank's balanced salt solution.