Provided nucleic acid-based expression construct for the target cell-specific production of a therapeutic protein, such as a pro-apoptotic protein, within a target cell, including a target cell that is associated with aging, disease, or other condition, in particular a target cell that is a senescent cell or a cancer cell. Also provided are formulations and systems, including fusogenic lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations and systems, for the delivery of nucleic acid-based expression constructs as well as methods for making and using such nucleic acid-based expression constructs, formulations, and systems for reducing, preventing, and/or eliminating the growth and/or survival of a cell, such as a senescent cell and/or a cancer cell, which is associated with aging, disease, or other condition as well as methods for the treatment of aging, disease, or other conditions by the in vivo administration of a formulation, such as a fusogenic LPN formulation, comprising an expression construct for the target cell-specific production of a therapeutic protein, such as a pro-apoptotic protein, in a target cell that is associated with aging, disease, or other condition, in particular a target cell that is a senescent cell or a cancer cell.

Provided herein are immune cells expressing antigenic receptors, such as a chimeric antigen receptor and a T cell receptor. Further provided herein are methods of treating immune-related disorder by administering the antigen-specific immune cells.

Disclosed are methods of eliminating at least on target cell in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a plurality of immune cells, wherein each immune cell of the plurality expresses one or more chimeric ligand receptor(s) (CLR(s)) that each specifically bind to a target ligand on the at least one target cell, wherein specifically binding of the one or more CLR(s) to the target activates the immune cell, and wherein the activated immune cell induces death of the target cell. Exemplary target cells include, but are not limited to, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

Provided herein are methods for cell therapy by modifying transfused cells to express an inducible caspase 9 protein, so that the cells may be selectively killed if the patient experiences dangerous side effects. Provided also within relates in part to methods for preventing or treating Graft versus Host Disease by modifying T cells before administration to a patient, so that they may be selectively killed if GvHD develops in the patient.

Provided are a method of screening an inhibitor of caspase activity by lipopolysaccharide and a method of screening a therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases or sepsis using the same. Accordingly, it is possible to develop a caspase-4-specific inhibitor.

The present invention provides a chimeric protein having the formula: Casp-Ht1-Ht2 wherein Casp is a caspase domain; Ht1 is a first heterodimerization domain; and Ht2 is a second heterodimerization domain and wherein, in the presence of a chemical inducer of dimerization (CID), an identical pair of the chimeric proteins interact such that Ht1 from one chimeric protein heterodimerizes with Ht2 from the other chimeric protein, causing homodimerization of the two caspase domains. The invention also provides a cell comprising such a protein and its use in adoptive cell therapy.

Methods and materials for specific imaging of active enzyme in a live or intact cell are disclosed. The enzyme of interest tagged to reporter protein (donor) is exogenously expressed in a cell. The conversion of proenzyme to active enzyme (containing reporter protein) is achieved upon applying an appropriate stimulus to the target cells. The activated enzyme is labelled with an activity-based probe carrying a fluorophore (acceptor). The covalent labelling of active enzyme by the activity-based probe creates a FRET pair which provides the opportunity to exquisitely image the function of an active enzyme. This method is used for specific imaging of the function of active caspase-3,-7,-8,-9 and cathepsin-B and also for profiling of inhibitors of caspases and cathepsin B.

Disclosed are methods of eliminating at least one target cell in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a plurality of immune cells, wherein each immune cell of the plurality expresses one or more chimeric ligand receptor(s) (CLR(s)) that each specifically bind to a target ligand on the at least one target cell, wherein specifically binding of the one or more CLR(s) to the target activates the immune cell, and wherein the activated immune cell induces death of the target cell. Exemplary target cells include, but are not limited to, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, systems, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for the targeted editing of nucleic acids, including editing a single site within the genome of a cell or subject, e.g., within the human genome. In some embodiments, fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or enzyme domains, e.g., deaminase domains, are provided. In some embodiments, methods for targeted nucleic acid editing are provided. In some embodiments, reagents and kits for the generation of targeted nucleic acid editing proteins, e.g., fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or domains, are provided.

Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, systems, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for the targeted editing of nucleic acids, including editing a single site within the genome of a cell or subject, e.g., within the human genome. In some embodiments, fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or enzyme domains, e.g., deaminase domains, are provided. In some embodiments, methods for targeted nucleic acid editing are provided. In some embodiments, reagents and kits for the generation of targeted nucleic acid editing proteins, e.g., fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or domains, are provided.