Abstract: The present invention provides a preparation method of a chimeric embryo and a chimeric rat, which is characterized by contacting a rat pluripotent stem cell and a host embryo in the presence of an ES cell differentiation inhibitor. The method includes (a) a step for contacting a fertilized host embryo collected from a female rat and a rat pluripotent stem cell in the presence of an ES cell differentiation suppressant, and (b) a step for culturing the host embryo in contact with the rat pluripotent stem cell to form a chimeric embryo.

Abstract: The present invention provides a therapeutic agent for a tumor, particularly a therapeutic agent for drug-resistant cancer, an agent for suppression or prophylaxis of tumor metastasis, and an agent for suppression or prophylaxis of cancer recurrence, containing a nucleic acid containing miR27b or a nucleotide having a nucleotide sequence having an identity of 70% or more with the nucleotide sequence shown by SEQ ID NO: 1 and having a function equivalent to miR27b.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rat embryonic stem cell characterized by having the following properties of (a) expressing Oct3/4 gene and Nanog gene, (b) positive for alkaline phosphatase activity, (c) having an embryoid body forming ability, (d) expressing SSEA (Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigen)-1 and SSEA-4, (e) having the same number of chromosomes as does a normal rat cell, (f) capable of being subcultured and holding the undifferentiated state, (g) having in vitro pluripotency, (h) having a potential to differentiate for cells of three embryonic germ lineages, (i) having teratoma formation ability, and (j) having an ability to produce a chimeric rat, a method of establishing the aforementioned rat embryonic stem cell and the like.

Abstract: A method for screening for a foodstuff providing production of milk having an immunoregulatory action, a novel foodstuff having an immunoregulatory action, and a method for producing it are provided. A diet or substance that increases or decreases an amount of microRNA present in milk of a mammal is identified by using correlation of microRNA profiles in the milk and a diet ingested by the mammal or a substance contained in the diet as an index to screen for a diet or a substance providing production of breast milk having an immunoregulatory action.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rat embryonic stem cell characterized by having the following properties of (a) expressing Oct3/4 gene and Nanog gene, (b) positive for alkaline phosphatase activity, (c) having an embryoid body forming ability, (d) expressing SSEA (Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigen)-1 and SSEA-4, (e) having the same number of chromosomes as does a normal rat cell, (f) capable of being subcultured and holding the undifferentiated state, (g) having in vitro pluripotency, (h) having a potential to differentiate for cells of three embryonic germ lineages, (i) having teratoma formation ability, and (j) having an ability to produce a chimeric rat, a method of establishing the aforementioned rat embryonic stem cell and the like.

Abstract: The present invention uses an RPN2 gene expression inhibitor as a cancer cell growth inhibitor, which further includes a drug showing an anti-cancer action if desired, and is administered in combination with atelocollagen if desired. In addition, the present invention is an anti-cancer agent including such cancer cell growth inhibitor.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is to provide a microarray for introducing nucleic acid, the microarray capable of introducing and expressing nucleic acid into cells simply by adding the nucleic acid onto a plate and the like, and then seeding the cells thereon and culturing them without adding a nucleic acid-introducing reagent or additives. The subject is achieved by preparing the microarray including atelocollagen, a gene-introducing agent and nucleic acid on a plate and the like for the introduction of nucleic acid. The nucleic acid can be introduced into a cell by seeding cells into which nucleic acids are introduced on the microarray and culturing them without the need of preparing a mixture of viral vectors, nucleic acids and a nucleic acid-introducing agent after culturing cells or the need of adding a nucleic acid-introducing agent and additives.

Abstract: Preparations for transferring efficiently oligonucleotides necessary in antisense therapy or the like into animal cells so as to be useful in treatment for various diseases, which comprises a collagen as an essential component are provided.

Abstract: Objects to be achieved by the invention are to provide a nanobio device in which cultured cells are organized at a high-level in a state near in vivo, and to provide a method of using the nanobio device of imitative anatomy structure. The nanobio device of imitative anatomy structure of the invention is obtained by manufacturing a substrate with a bio-compatible substance and arranging a plurality of types of cells thereon in a desired array. A method of manufacturing a nanobio device in the invention includes a step of manufacturing a substrate for a nanobio device by a micromachine processing technique and a step of arranging a plurality of cultured cells on the substrate in a desired array with laser optical tweezers.

Abstract: The present invention uses an RPN2 gene expression inhibitor as a cancer cell growth inhibitor, which further includes a drug showing an anti-cancer action if desired, and is administered in combination with atelocollagen if desired. In addition, the present invention is an anti-cancer agent including such cancer cell growth inhibitor.

Abstract: Means for transferring efficiently a desired nucleic acid into a cell is provided. The present invention comprises using a complex comprising a collagen or a collagen derivative, and a desired nucleic acid.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide a microchip for cell arranging which transfers and arranges the cell accurately and quickly, by combining advantages of the method of an optical tweezer and of micro channel.

Abstract: Preparations for transferring efficiently oligonucleotides necessary in antisense therapy or the like into animal cells so as to be useful in treatment for various diseases, which comprises a collagen as an essential component are provided.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for identifying genes or genetic pathways modulated by miR-16, using miR-16 to modulate a gene or gene pathway, using this profile in assessing the condition of a patient and/or treating the patient with an appropriate miRNA.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is to provide a microarray for introducing nucleic acid, the microarray capable of introducing and expressing nucleic acid into cells simply by adding the nucleic acid onto a plate and the like, and then seeding the cells thereon and culturing them without adding a nucleic acid-introducing reagent or additives. The subject is achieved by preparing the microarray including atelocollagen, a gene-introducing agent and nucleic acid on a plate and the like for the introduction of nucleic acid. The nucleic acid can be introduced into a cell by seeding cells into which nucleic acids are introduced on the microarray and culturing them without the need of preparing a mixture of viral vectors, nucleic acids and a nucleic acid-introducing agent after culturing cells or the need of adding a nucleic acid-introducing agent and additives.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of nucleic acid transfer comprising the following steps (a) and (b): (a) contacting a nucleic acid with a cell in a medium; and (b) following the step (a), contacting the medium of (a) with a high-concentration solution of a metal salt, a nucleic acid transfer agent comprising solid metal salt or a high-concentration solution of a metal salt as an ingredient, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for inducing the differentiation of pluripotent cells. The present inventors succeeded in differentiating hepatocytes from ES cells without EB formation, using simple adherent monoculturing in media comprising several growth factors in culture dishes with two different matrices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rat embryonic stem cell characterized by having the following properties of (a) expressing Oct3/4 gene and Nanog gene, (b) positive for alkaline phosphatase activity, (c) having an embryoid body forming ability, (d) expressing SSEA (Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigen)-1 and SSEA-4, (e) having the same number of chromosomes as does a normal rat cell, (f) capable of being subcultured and holding the undifferentiated state, (g) having in vitro pluripotency, (h) having a potential to differentiate for cells of three embryonic germ lineages, (i) having teratoma formation ability, and (j) having an ability to produce a chimeric rat, a method of establishing the aforementioned rat embryonic stem cell and the like.

Abstract: objects to be achieved by the invention are to provide a nanobio device in which cultured cells are organized at a high-level in a state near in vivo, and to provide a method of using the nanobio device of imitative anatomy structure. The nanobio device of imitative anatomy structure of the invention is obtained by manufacturing a substrate with a bio-compatible substance and arranging a plurality of types of cells thereon in a desired array. A method of manufacturing a nanobio device in the invention includes a step of manufacturing a substrate for a nanobio device by a micromachine processing technique and a step of arranging a plurality of cultured cells on the substrate in a desired array with laser optical tweezers.

Abstract: The present invention provides modified methods of producing human hepatocyte-like cells which exhibit phenotypes more similar to those of human hepatocytes. The present invention also provides the human hepatocyte-like cells and uses thereof. The methods of the present invention comprises a prolonged incubation period and addition of dexamethasone to the culture medium. The methods of the inventors produce human hepatocyte-like cells whose morphology is more similar to that of human hepatocytes, compared with the conventional system. The cells produced have both morphological and functional features of primary culture cells from normal human liver, including cytochrome P450 (CYP), multi-drug resistance-associated protein (MRP), and multi-drug protein (MDR).