Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a high-quality graft from pluripotent stem cell-derived differentiation-induced cells, a graft produced by using the method, and a method for treating a disease using the graft are described Embodiments of a method for producing a graft are described, which include a step of performing an operation for removing undifferentiated cells in a cell population containing pluripotent stem cell-derived differentiation-induced cells, optionally a step of freezing the cell population and thereafter thawing the cell population, and a step of seeding the obtained cell population on a culture substrate and performing graft-forming culture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for use in treating an intractable heart tissue fibrosis disease accompanied by chronic heart failure. The pharmaceutical composition for use in treating an intractable heart tissue fibrosis disease accompanied by chronic heart failure comprises, as an active ingredient, at least one member selected from the group consisting of protease inhibitors, thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitors, thromboxane A2 synthase antagonists, phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, and antifibrotic agents. (The pharmaceutical composition includes biodegradable polymer-encapsulated, long-acting preparations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a clinically applicable, safe and less damaged cardiomyocyte population through a brief and simple procedure from a cell population obtained by induced differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes. The present invention relates to a method for preparing a cardiomyocyte population, the method comprising the steps of: (1) inducing pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, (2) bringing a cell population obtained by the induced differentiation into contact with a laminin selected from the group consisting of laminin ?2?1?1, laminin ?2?2?1, laminin ?1?1?1 and laminin ?1?2?1, or a fragment thereof having integrin binding activity, and (3) retrieving cells adherent to the laminin or the laminin fragment.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a therapeutic agent for dilated cardiomyopathy disease which produces excellent effects in the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and provides a given benefit to a large number of patients. The present invention is a therapeutic agent for dilated cardiomyopathy comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of mesenchymal stem cell and microparticles derived from the mesenchymal stem cell. It is preferable that the mesenchymal stem cell is a cell having the ability to contain or secrete microparticles, that the microparticles have an average particle size of 1000 nm or less, and that they are exosomes.

Abstract: A method for preparing differentiation-induced cells from embryoid bodies derived from pluripotent stem cells is provided. The method includes adding a protease to embryoid bodies. The protease disperses the embryoid bodies, and the protease has an enzyme activity in the range from 0.3 to 4.0 recombinant protease activity unit (rPU)/ml.

Abstract: A method for producing a cell culture containing desired cells is provided. The desired cells are induced to be differentiated from pluripotent stem cells. The method includes seeding a cell population by dispersing embryoid bodies obtained by inducing differentiation from the pluripotent stem cells to the desired cells. The embryoid bodies are dispersed at a density reaching confluence or higher.

Abstract: This composition can be easily added when cryopreserving cells and improves cell viability. 1 volume % of the composition containing 0.01 wt % to 20 wt % of a sophorose lipid is added just before or up to 6 hours before cryopreservation and cells are stored. This composition can improve cryopreservation cell viability as it reduces freezing damage to cells. With this composition, cells can be stored without using DMSO and blood serum. This is a simple and inexpensive storage method as it does not require fine control of the freezing rate during cell cryopreservation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for use in treating an intractable heart tissue fibrosis disease accompanied by chronic heart failure. The pharmaceutical composition for use in treating an intractable heart tissue fibrosis disease accompanied by chronic heart failure comprises, as an active ingredient, at least one member selected from the group consisting of protease inhibitors, thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitors, thromboxane A2 synthase antagonists, phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, and antifibrotic agents. (The pharmaceutical composition includes biodegradable polymer-encapsulated, long-acting preparations thereof.

Abstract: The present inventors have found that HMGB1 fragment peptides having a particular amino acid sequence exhibit the effects of improvement of cardiac function, inhibition of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, inhibition of myocardial fibrosis, and promotion of angiogenesis in an animal model of dilated cardiomyopathy, that the particular HMGB1 fragment peptides also exhibit the effects of improvement of cardiac function, inhibition of cardiomegaly, inhibition of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, inhibition of myocardial fibrosis, and promotion of angiogenesis in an animal model of ischemic cardiomyopathy caused by old myocardial infarction, and that the particular HMGB1 fragment peptides exhibit the effects of inhibition of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and inhibition of myocardial fibrosis in an animal model of hypertensive cardiomyopathy.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a disease-treating agent which exerts an excellent effect in treating diseases requiring an emergency surgery such as heart failure and which is efficacious at a certain level for a large number of patients. The present invention pertains to a kit for preparing a disease-treating agent, said kit comprising a) a fibrinogen solution, b) a thrombin solution and c) mesenchymal stem cells, in separate forms respectively. It is preferred that c) the mesenchymal stem cells are allogeneic to a subject to be treated. Also, the present invention pertains to a kit for preparing a disease-treating agent, said kit being to be used by, when in use, suspending c) the mesenchymal stem cells in either a) the fibrinogen solution or b) the thrombin solution, and then spraying the cell suspension thus obtained directly to a disease site substantially simultaneously with either b) the thrombin solution or a) the fibrinogen solution that is not used in the suspending step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a clinically applicable, safe and less damaged cardiomyocyte population through a brief and simple procedure from a cell population obtained by induced differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes. The present invention relates to a method for preparing a cardiomyocyte population, the method comprising the steps of: (1) inducing pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, (2) bringing a cell population obtained by the induced differentiation into contact with a laminin selected from the group consisting of laminin ?2?1?1, laminin ?2?2?1, laminin ?1?1?1 and laminin ?1?2?1, or a fragment thereof having integrin binding activity, and (3) retrieving cells adherent to the laminin or the laminin fragment.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for cryopreservation of cardiocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells or mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue or bone marrow, the method maintaining the function of the cardiocytes derived from differentiated pluripotent stem cells or mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue or bone marrow, and yet reducing the possibility for tumorigenesis of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells or mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue or bone marrow. A method is also disclosed for cryopreservation of cardiocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells or mesenchymal stem cells (derived from adipose tissue or bone marrow, the method including dissociating cells from a cell population which has been induced to differentiate into cardiocytes from pluripotent stem cells or mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue or bone marrow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drug-eluting stent graft for preventing stent graft-related complications as well as treating aneurysm. Specifically, the present invention relates to a drug-eluting stent graft comprising a drug, a drug-retaining agent and a stent graft, and a method for therapy of aneurysm including the use of the drug-eluting stent graft.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed of freezing, cryopreserving, and transferring a frozen sheet-shaped cell culture. The method of freezing includes (1) a step of immersing in a cryopreservation solution a sheet-shaped cell culture supported by a mesh-shaped support body; (2) a step of removing the cryopreservation solution adhered to the sheet-shaped cell culture, while keeping the sheet-shaped cell culture supported by the mesh-shaped support body; (3) a step of enclosing the sheet-shaped cell culture in a cold-resistant film, an upper surface and a lower surface of the sheet-shaped cell culture being covered by the mesh-shaped support body; and (4) a step of freezing the sheet-shaped cell culture.

Abstract: Provided is a cell population comprising differentiated cells obtainable by inducing differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, wherein the content ratio of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells is 0.2% or less.

Abstract: A method for treating a disease associated with tissue abnormality in a subject. The method includes administering an amount of a pharmaceutical composition to a subject in need of treating a disease associated with tissue abnormality, the pharmaceutical composition comprising a laminate comprising a fibrin gel and a cell culture. The laminate is produced by a method, which includes forming a fibrin gel layer on an upper surface of the cell culture by a reaction between fibrinogen and thrombin, wherein: the cell culture is prepared on a culture dish and the laminate of the fibrin gel and the cell culture are transferred onto a subject's heart. The laminate further includes a reinforcing portion made of a fibrin gel, the reinforcing portion formed by laminating the fibrin gel on the fibrin gel layer of the laminate of the cell culture and the fibrin gel.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped cell culture is disclosed that includes myocardial cells derived from pluripotent stem cells and has excellent functional properties. A sheet-shaped cell culture obtained by culturing a cell population that includes myocardial cells derived from pluripotent stem cells, wherein the proportion of the number of the myocardial cells derived from pluripotent stem cells to the total number of cells in the cell population is 50% to 70%; a method of producing the sheet-shaped cell culture; a composition including the sheet-shaped cell culture; and a method of treating a disease using the sheet-shaped cell culture or the composition.

Abstract: A laminate of a sheet-shaped cell culture is disclosed, which has excellent operability and is suitable for implantation. A method is disclosed for producing a laminate of a fibrin gel and a sheet-shaped cell culture, including a step of dripping a liquid containing fibrinogen onto an upper surface of a sheet-shaped cell culture, a step of spraying a liquid containing thrombin onto the surface, and a step of forming a fibrin gel layer on the surface by a reaction between fibrinogen and thrombin; and a laminate of a fibrin gel and a sheet-shaped cell culture produced by the method are disclosed.

Abstract: A fragment peptide having a proper length composed of a part of an HMGB1 protein was synthesized and the peptide was confirmed to exhibit therapeutic effects on myocardial infarction.

Abstract: Provided is an advanced heart failure treatment material, as a myocardial/cardiovascular regeneration device, that self-assembles, which can improve the universality and be used in an emergency by commercialization with no need of cell-culturing (cell-free) by controlling stem cells, and has a high therapeutic effect on the fundamental treatment of intractable cardiovascular diseases, in particular, advanced heart failure, in which not only the saving of lives but also improving the patient's quality of life (QOL) are urgent issues. The advanced heart failure treatment material includes a pharmaceutical agent, an agent holding for the pharmaceutical agent, and a myocardial support device.