A method for treating a subject having a medical condition associated with inflammation and/or an unwanted immune response without an alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, wherein the method comprises administering genetically modified mesenchymal stem cells to the subject, wherein said genetically modified mesenchymal stem cells comprise an exogenous nucleic acid comprising (i) an Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) encoding region operably linked to (ii) a promoter or promoter/enhancer combination.

A method to prevent, inhibit or treat one or more symptoms associated with disease of the central nervous system by intranasally, intrathecally, intracerebrovascularly or intravenously administering a rAAV encoding a gene product associated with the disease, e.g., a mammal in which the gene product is absent or present at a reduced level relative to a mammal without the disease, in an amount effective, e.g., to provide for cross-correction.

This invention relates to genetic engineering, in particular to an insertion site for a transgene, cells comprising a transgene or other modification at that insertion site, vectors for targeting that insertion site, and methods for creating transgenic cells by insertion or other modification at that site. The insertion site, or “safe harbour locus”, is identified within the SPATA13 gene on human chromosome 13q12.12. Mammalian cells comprising a genetic modification within the SPATA13 gene on chromosome 13q12.12 are described, wherein the modification may be an insertion such as an integrated transgene. Nucleic acid molecules able and adapted to guide the insertion of a transgene to that insertion site are also described. These cells or nucleic acids may be useful in therapy.

Nucleic acid regulatory elements that are able to enhance muscle-specific expression of genes, in particular expression in muscle cells and/or tissues such as in diaphragm, smooth muscle, heart and/or skeletal muscle, including at least two diaphragm-specific regulatory elements and a heart- and skeletal muscle-specific regulatory element. Expression cassettes and vectors containing these nucleic acid regulatory elements, as well as uses thereof such as applications using gene therapy of muscle-related disorders, more particularly diaphragm, heart and/or skeletal muscle-directed gene therapy, and for vaccination purposes.

The present invention relates to a polynucleotide comprising a Complement Factor I (CFI) nucleotide sequence encoding a CFI polypeptide or a fragment thereof. The invention further relates to a viral particle comprising a recombinant genome comprising the polynucleotide of the invention, and a composition comprising the polynucleotide or viral particle of the invention. The invention also relates to methods of using, and uses of, the polynucleotide, viral particle and/or composition of the invention. The invention also relates to methods of using, and uses of, a polynucleotide comprising a CFI nucleotide sequence, a viral particle comprising a recombinant genome comprising the polynucleotide, or a composition comprising the polynucleotide or viral particle.

The disclosure provides gene therapy vectors, such as adeno-associated virus (AAV), optimized for delivering a transgene to muscles. The optimized vectors contain constitutive or a muscle-specific promoter to deliver whole body or skeletal/heart muscle-specific transgene expression, respectively, in combination with a transgene cDNA to replace the gene mutation found in a muscle disease with a normal copy of the gene, an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) to allow for production of a second protein from the same transcript, and a muscle growth factor, to build new muscle growth and strength. For example, the invention provides The disclosure provides gene therapy vectors, such as recombinant adeno-associated vims (rAAV), designed for treatment of GNE myopathy in which the rAAV expresses UDP-GlcNAc-epimerase/ManNAc-6 alone or in combination with a muscle growth factor or muscle transdifferentation factor. The provided AAV replace the mutated GNE gene expression while expressing proteins that stimulate muscle growth.

A novel class of fusion proteins to recruit a cell's innate chaperone mechanism, specifically the Hsp70-mediated system, to specifically reduce polyglutamine-mediated protein aggregation is disclosed.

The application relates to the use of loaded red blood cells (e.g. “RBCs”, “red cells” or “erythrocytes”) or red blood cell precursors to produce red cell extracellular vesicles (RCEVs) containing cargos, including cargos comprising biologically active ingredients. Notable red cell precursors include hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and reticulocytes. The cargo may comprise nucleic acids, proteins, small molecules, or components of a gene editing system, including CRISPR/Cas9. The RCEVs may be used to treat of diseases and disorders including autoimmune disorders, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, genetic disorders, or inflammatory diseases. The RCEVs may also be used to carry antigens and or immune modulator, for use in eliciting immune or immune tolerance responses. Also provided are methods for producing cargo loaded RCEVs (CLRCEVs) by first loading cargo into red cells and then by vesiculating the cargo loaded red cells to yield the CLRCEVs.

The compounds disclosed herein (e.g., compounds having a structure according to Formula (I), (II), (III), (IV), and (V)) are polymers wherein an organic polymeric segment (e.g., a polyethylene glycol (PEG) group) comprises covalent attachments to two or more lipid substructures, and each lipid substructure independently comprises a hydrophobic moiety and a hydrophilic moiety. The compounds provided herein can be useful for delivery and expression of mRNA and encoded protein, e.g., as a component of liposomal delivery vehicle, and accordingly can be useful for treating various diseases, disorders and conditions, such as those associated with deficiency of one or more proteins.

In alternative embodiments, provided are peptides and peptide-comprising compositions, including products of manufacture and kits, and methods, for modulating myosin subfragment-2 coiled coil stability. In alternative embodiments, a peptide modulator of myosin subfragment-2 coiled coil stability as provided herein is administered to an individual in need thereof for: increasing exercise tolerance in a subject with heart failure; reducing hospitalization in a subject with heart failure; improving quality of life in a subject with heart failure; decreasing morbidity in a subject with heart failure; decreasing mortality in a subject with heart failure; modulating skeletal muscle activity for purposes of impacting patient weight; and/or, modulating skeletal muscle activity for purposes of ameliorating consequences of skeletal muscle diseases such as sarcopenia, muscular dystrophies, muscle cramps, and nemaline myopathies.