Abstract: The present invention provides, in order to prepare matured hepatocytes analogous in various points to primary hepatocytes, a method for preparing hepatocytes or cells that can be differentiated into hepatocytes from pluripotent stem cells, comprising the steps of: (1) culturing the pluripotent stem cells in a medium containing an activator of an activin receptor-like kinase-4,7; (2) culturing the cells obtained in the step (1) in a medium containing a bone morphogenetic factor and a fibroblast growth factor; (3) culturing the cells obtained in the step (2) in a medium containing an activator of a hepatocyte growth factor receptor and an activator of an oncostatin M receptor; and (4) culturing the cells obtained in the step (3) to obtain hepatocytes or cells that can be differentiated into hepatocytes, wherein in at least one of the steps (2), (3) and (4), cells are cultured on a high-density collagen gel membrane.

Abstract: As an approach of efficiently inducing differentiation from pluripotent stem cells into insulin-producing cells, provided is a method comprising the step of three-dimensionally culturing cells in a medium containing a dihydroindolizinone derivative.

Abstract: As a method for producing enterocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells and having functions corresponding to those of actual enterocytes, a method for producing enterocytes using an enterocyte differentiation medium containing a GSK3 inhibitor, and at least one selected from the group consisting of an activator of a hepatocyte growth factor receptor, an adrenal cortex hormone, calcitriol, and dimethyl sulfoxide is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in order to prepare matured hepatocytes analogous in various points to primary hepatocytes, a method for preparing hepatocytes or cells that can be differentiated into hepatocytes from pluripotent stem cells, comprising the steps of: (1) culturing the pluripotent stem cells in a medium containing an activator of an activin receptor-like kinase-4,7; (2) culturing the cells obtained in the step (1) in a medium containing a bone morphogenetic factor and a fibroblast growth factor; (3) culturing the cells obtained in the step (2) in a medium containing an activator of a hepatocyte growth factor receptor and an activator of an oncostatin M receptor; and (4) culturing the cells obtained in the step (3) to obtain hepatocytes or cells that can be differentiated into hepatocytes, wherein in at least one of the steps (2), (3) and (4), cells are cultured on a high-density collagen gel membrane.

Abstract: In order to improve the efficiency of inducing differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, provided is a method for promoting differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, the method including a step of culturing pluripotent stem cells in a medium, wherein the medium is a medium containing a) an insulin-like growth factor, b) an insulin analogue preparation containing no zinc, c) an insulin analogue preparation containing a low concentration of zinc, or d) a compound exhibiting an insulin-like action.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for efficiently directing differentiation into insulin-producing cells in a xeno-free culture system.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method and a culture medium which are capable of efficiently inducing the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells such as ES cells and iPS cells into desired cells by a simple means. The differentiation of pluripotent stem cells can be induced by culturing mammal-derived pluripotent stem cells in a differentiation culture medium that does not contain at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of methionine, leucine, cysteine, tyrosine and arginine. Also provided is a differentiation-inducing culture medium which does not contain at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of methionine, leucine, cysteine, tyrosine and arginine.

Abstract: A purpose of the present invention is to provide a small chemical compound which especially promotes induction of the differentiation of ES cells into insulin-producing cells. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide: a method for inducing the differentiation of ES cells into insulin-producing cells using the compound; and an agent for promoting induction of the differentiation into insulin-producing cells. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide the thus-induced insulin-producing cells. Provided are: an agent for promoting induction of the differentiation of stem cells derived from a mammal into insulin-producing cells, which contains a compound that is selected from the group consisting of dopamine metabolism inhibitors, serotonin metabolism inhibitors, acetylchotine, acetylcholine degrading enzyme inhibitors and acetylcholine receptor activators; and a method for inducing differentiation using the agent for promoting induction of differentiation.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for efficiently directing differentiation into insulin-producing cells in a xeno-free culture system.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing intestinal cells by use of pluripotent stem cells as a starting material. According to the present invention, provided is a method of producing intestinal cells, comprising the steps of: (A) inducing differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into definitive endoderm cells; and (B) culturing the definitive endoderm cells in the presence of (2?Z,3?E)-6-bromoindirubin-3?-oxime (BIO) and N-[(3,5-difluorophenyl)acetyl]-L-Ala-2-phenyl-L-Gly-tert-butyl-OH (DAPT) to thereby induce differentiation of the definitive endoderm cells into intestinal cells.

Abstract: A purpose of the present invention is to provide a small chemical compound which especially promotes induction of the differentiation of ES cells into insulin-producing cells. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide: a method for inducing the differentiation of ES cells into insulin-producing cells using the compound; and an agent for promoting induction of the differentiation into insulin-producing cells. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide the thus-induced insulin-producing cells. Provided are: an agent for promoting induction of the differentiation of stem cells derived from a mammal into insulin-producing cells, which contains a compound that is selected from the group consisting of dopamine metabolism inhibitors, serotonin metabolism inhibitors, acetylchotine, acetylcholine degrading enzyme inhibitors and acetylcholine receptor activators; and a method for inducing differentiation using the agent for promoting induction of differentiation.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing intestinal cells by use of pluripotent stem cells as a starting material. According to the present invention, provided is a method of producing intestinal cells, comprising the steps of: (A) inducing differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into definitive endoderm cells; and (B) culturing the definitive endoderm cells in the presence of (2?Z,3?E)-6-bromoindirubin-3?-oxime (BIO) and N-[(3,5-difluorophenyl)acetyl]-L-Ala-2-phenyl-L-Gly-tert-butyl-OH (DAPT) to thereby induce differentiation of the definitive endoderm cells into intestinal cells.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method and a culture medium which are capable of efficiently inducing the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells such as ES cells and iPS cells into desired cells by a simple means. The differentiation of pluripotent stem cells can be induced by culturing mammal-derived pluripotent stem cells in a differentiation culture medium that does not contain at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of methionine, leucine, cysteine, tyrosine and arginine. Also provided is a differentiation-inducing culture medium which does not contain at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of methionine, leucine, cysteine, tyrosine and arginine.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to establish a system for reliably differentiating an ES cell into a hepatic cell. The present invention provides a method for inducing the differentiation of an ES cell into a hepatic cell, which comprises, in the presence of an M15 cell, culturing a mammal-derived ES cell in the presence of activin and bFGF, and then culturing the ES cell in the presence of dexamethasone, HGF, and oncostatin M.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to establish a system for reliably differentiating an ES cell into a hepatic cell. The present invention provides a method for inducing the differentiation of an ES cell into a hepatic cell, which comprises, in the presence of an M15 cell, culturing a mammal-derived ES cell in the presence of activin and bFGF, and then culturing the ES cell in the presence of dexamethasone, HGF, and oncostatin M.