Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Jue Zhang

James A Thomson

Igor I Slukvin

Zhonggang Hou

Michael P Schwartz

Nicholas E Propson

William Leo Murphy

Gene Ichiro Uenishi

John Maufort

Gene I Uenishi

The present invention relates to methods for deriving human hematopoietic progenitors, primitive macrophages, and microglial cells from human pluripotent stem cells. In particular, provided herein are highly efficient and reproducible methods of obtaining human primitive macrophages and microglia from human pluripotent stem cells, where the primitive macrophages and microglia can be suitable for clinically relevant therapeutic applications.

Derivation of human microglia from pluripotent stem cells

Methods of using a small molecule MYH11 agonist to inhibit intimal hyperplasia and to maintain a contractile phenotype in vitro and in vivo are described. Also described herein are methods for generating human contractile smooth muscle cells from human pluripotent stem cells under defined conditions in the presence of the small molecule MYH11 agonist.

Human pluripotent stem cell-based screening for smooth muscle cell differentiation and disease

Methods for generating human arterial endothelial cells under defined conditions in the absence of insulin are described. In particular, provided herein are efficient, defined, and scalable methods for generating human arterial endothelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells. Also provided herein are uses of human arterial endothelial cells obtained according to these methods. For example, methods of treating peripheral arterial disease and methods of screening agents for that effect adhesion of leukocytes to arterial endothelial cells are also provided.

Generating arterial endothelial cell populations

Provided herein are human arterial endothelial cell-seeded polymeric vascular grafts suitable for replacing or bypassing natural blood vessels and exhibiting increased long term patency rates and reduced leukocyte adhesion relative to grafts comprising venous endothelial cells. Methods for generating the human arterial endothelial cell-seeded vascular grafts and therapeutic uses of the same are also described.

Generating arterial endothelial cell-seeded vascular grafts

The present invention relates to chemically defined and xenogeneic material-free methods for deriving endothelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides highly efficient and reproducible methods of obtaining human endothelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells, where endothelial cells derived from the methods provided herein are suitable for clinically relevant therapeutic applications.

Growing community of inventors

Madison, WI, United States of America

Jue Zhang