Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an approach of removing non-endocrine unintended cells coexisting with insulin-secreting cells obtained by the differentiation. The present invention relates to a method for producing an insulin-producing cell population, comprising the step of treating an insulin-producing cell population obtained by the differentiation from pluripotent stem cells with a PLK inhibitor.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for inducing the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into an insulin-positive cell population. The present invention provides a method for producing an insulin-positive cell population, comprising differentiating a pancreatic progenitor cell population or a cell population at a later stage of differentiation in a medium containing a CDK8/19 inhibitor.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel approach capable of conveniently producing a large quantity of substantially uniform size cell aggregates. Provided is a method for producing cell aggregates using a cell culture bag, the cell culture bag having a lower face comprising a plurality of recesses, the method comprising the steps of: (1) adding cells and a medium to the cell culture bag, stirring the contents, and culturing the cells while applying a pressure to the cell culture bag; and (2) recovering the formed cell aggregates after the completion of culture.

Abstract: Provided is a cell suspension culturing apparatus suitable for large-scale culture of cells, the cell culturing apparatus comprising a culture solution aspirator having a double-tube structure comprising an outer tube and an inner tube inserted in a lumen of the outer tube, and a suspension culture vessel, wherein in the culture solution aspirator, the outer tube comprises a filter through which a culture solution is passed, the inner tube comprises a suction port for the culture solution passed through the filter, and an air hole which communicates the lumen of the outer tube with the outside is disposed distally in a direction of insertion of the outer tube into the suspension culture vessel.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for producing a biological tissue-like structure comprising differentiated cells induced from pluripotent stem cells, and the present invention provides a method of forming a biological tissue-like structure together with host-derived blood vessels and connective tissue by transplanting a composition in which cells derived from pluripotent stem cells are disposed to be dispersed in a biocompatible material to induce the differentiation of the cells.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel method for making it possible to efficiently induce/produce endocrine cells from pluripotent stem cells. Insulin-producing cells including cells that are insulin-positive and NKX6.1-positive cells in a ratio of at least 30% and cells that are insulin-positive and NKX6.1-negative in a ratio of more than 15%.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel approach that enables definitive endoderm cells or insulin-producing cells to be efficiently induced and/or manufactured from pluripotent stem cells. The present invention provides a method for producing definitive endoderm cells from pluripotent stem cells, comprising subjecting pluripotent stem cells to first culture in a differentiation-inducing medium in which insulin acts and subsequently to second culture in a differentiation-inducing medium in which insulin does not act.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an insulin-producing cell population or a pancreatic ? cell population having the reduced number of Ki67-positive cells, comprising treating a population of endocrine progenitor cells or cells at a later stage of differentiation with an FGFR1 inhibitor.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for removing highly proliferative Ki67-positive cells co-present in insulin-secreting cells obtained by differentiation induction. A method for producing an insulin-producing cell population or a pancreatic beta cell population containing less than 3% of Ki67-positive cells, comprising: embedding an endocrine progenitor cell population or a cell population at a later stage of differentiation into a gel containing alginic acid; and differentiating the cell population.

Abstract: Provided is a cell suspension culturing apparatus suitable for large-scale culture of cells, the cell culturing apparatus comprising a culture solution aspirator having a double-tube structure comprising an outer tube and an inner tube inserted in a lumen of the outer tube, and a suspension culture vessel, wherein in the culture solution aspirator, the outer tube comprises a filter through which a culture solution is passed, the inner tube comprises a suction port for the culture solution passed through the filter, and an air hole which communicates the lumen of the outer tube with the outside is disposed distally in a direction of insertion of the outer tube into the suspension culture vessel.

Abstract: Provided is a method for generating pancreatic bud cells, having the step of culturing PDX1+/NKX6.1+ cells in a medium containing KGF, EGF and a BMP inhibitor. The culturing step may be performed in suspension cultures or in adherent cultures. When the cells are cultured in adherent cultures, the cells may be cultured in a medium further containing a ROCK inhibitor or a nonmuscie myosin II inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing pancreatic progenitor cells from pluripotent stem cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for producing pancreatic progenitor cells, comprising causing the action of a factor having the inhibitory activity for cyclin-dependent kinase 8 and/or cyclin-dependent kinase 19 (hereinafter, also abbreviated to CDK8/19).

Abstract: Provided is a method for generating pancreatic bud cells, having the step of culturing PDX1+/NKX6.1? cells in a medium containing KGF, EGF and a BMP inhibitor. The culturing step may be performed in suspension cultures or in adherent cultures. When the cells are cultured in adherent cultures, the cells may be cultured in a medium further containing a ROCK inhibitor or a nonmuscle myosin II inhibitor.

Abstract: Provided is a method for generating pancreatic bud cells, comprising the step of culturing PDX1+/NKX6.1? cells in a medium comprising KGF, EGY, a DMP inhibitor and an Akt inhibitor. The cells may be cultured under adherent culture conditions. PDX1+/NKX6.1? cells may be induced from pluripotent stem cells in vitro. The method of this application makes it possible to generate pancreatic bud cells from pluripotent stem cells.

Abstract: Provided is a method for inducing pancreatic hormone-producing cells from pancreatic progenitor cells efficiently. The method comprises a step of culturing the cells in a culture medium comprising sodium cromoglicate.

Abstract: Provided is a method for generating pancreatic bud cells, having the step of culturing PDX1+/NKX6.1? cells in a medium containing KGF, EGF and a BMP inhibitor. The culturing step may be performed in suspension cultures or in adherent cultures. When the cells are cultured in adherent cultures, the cells may be cultured in a medium further containing a ROCK inhibitor or a nonmuscle myosin II inhibitor.

Abstract: Provided is a method for inducing pancreatic hormone-producing cells from pancreatic progenitor cells efficiently. The method comprises a step of culturing the cells in a culture medium comprising sodium cromoglicate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of examining polycystic kidney disease or a complication of polycystic kidney disease using a gene(s) selected from the group consisting of NTNG1, POSTN, TNC, KAL1, BST1, ACAT2, INSIG1, SCD, HSD3B1, KRT7, USP40, SULT1E1, BMP6, CD274, CTGF, E2F7, EDN1, FAM43A, FRMD3, MMP10, MYEOV, NR2F1, NRCAM, PDCK1, PLXNA2, SLC30A3, SNAI1, SPOCD1, MMP1, TFPI2, HMGA2, KRTAP4-7, KRTAP4-8, KRTAP4-9, MYPN, RPPH1, and SIAE, and a method of screening for a therapeutic agent or a preventive agent therefore, and further vascular endothelial cells or vascular mural cells obtained via differentiation induction from iPS cells formed from a somatic cell of a subject suffered from polycystic kidney disease and having cerebral aneurysm as a complication.

Abstract: A temperature detecting device employing as a temperature detecting element a CdInGaS.sub.4 compound semiconductor material. The temperature of a body in thermal contact with the temperature detecting element is determined using either a reflecting or an absorbing technique. CdInGaS.sub.4 semiconductor material used as a light detecting element provides a temperature measuring range of about -200.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C.