Geron Corporation

Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Choy-Pik Chiu

Melissa K Carpenter

Ramkumar Mandalam

Lakshmi Rambhatla

Kristina Pfendler-Bonham

Namitha Rao

Saadia Faouzi

Isabelle Nadeau

Michael D West

Joseph D Gold

Margaret Inokuma

James T Murai

Andrea G Bodnar

Calvin B Harley

Xu-Rong Jiang

This disclosure provides a newly developed strategy and particular options for differentiating pluripotent stem cells into cells of the hepatocyte lineage. Many of the protocols are based on a strategy in which the cells are first differentiated into early germ layer cells, then into hepatocyte precursors, and then into mature cells. The cells obtained have morphological features and phenotypic markers characteristic of human adult hepatocytes. They also show evidence of cytochrome p450 enzyme activity, validating their utility for commercial applications such as drug screening, or use in the manufacture of medicaments and medical devices for clinical therapy.

Protocols for making hepatocytes from embryonic stem cells

Methods and materials for culturing primate-derived primordial stem cells are described. In one embodiment, a cell culture medium for growing primate-derived primordial stem cells in a substantially undifferentiated state is provided which includes a low osmotic pressure, low endotoxin basic medium that is effective to support the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells. The basic medium is combined with a nutrient serum effective to support the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells and a substrate selected from feeder cells and an extracellular matrix component derived from feeder cells. The medium further includes non-essential amino acids, an anti-oxidant, and a first growth factor selected from nucleosides and a pyruvate salt.

Feeder-free culture method for embryonic stem cells or primate primordial stem cells

It has been discovered that increasing telomerase activity in cells surrounding a wound has a variety of effects that enhance wound healing. Replication capacity is enhanced, and the mobility of the epithelial cells can be increased by 3-fold or more. Some aspects of the invention relate to agents that increase telomerase activity in cells at the site of the wound, promoting cells to move to the site and restore an epithelial layer and the underlying stratum. Other aspects of the invention relate to compositions comprising epithelial cells in which telomerase activity has been increased, useful as grafts for the treatment of wounds.

Treatment for wounds

Methods and materials for culturing primate-derived primordial stem cells are described. In one embodiment, a cell culture medium for growing primate-derived primordial stem cells in a substantially undifferentiated state is provided which includes a low osmotic pressure, low endotoxin basic medium that is effective to support the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells. The basic medium is combined with a nutrient serum effective to support the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells and a substrate selected from the group consisting of feeder cells and an extracellular matrix component derived from feeder cells. The medium further includes non-essential amino acids, an anti-oxidant, and a first growth factor selected from the group consisting of nucleosides and a pyruvate salt.

Methods and materials for the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells in feeder-free culture

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Choy-Pik Chiu