The present disclosure relates to a fusion protein of albumin and a retinol-binding protein, which can be used to prevent or treat fibrotic diseases occurring in the liver, pancreas, lungs, etc. The fusion protein of the present disclosure inhibits the activation of stellate cells, which causes tissue fibrosis, or induces the deactivation thereof, thus enabling the prevention or treatment of fibrotic diseases, and exhibits a more potent effect at a low concentration as compared to existing fusion proteins for the same purpose. Thus, the fusion protein is expected to be a general-purpose platform technology capable of remarkably reducing the dose and frequency of administration of protein therapeutic agents to the human body.

This disclosure relates to compositions and methods for treating cancer using armored chimeric antigen receptor cells.

Co-crystals comprising the Nuclear receptor related 1 protein-ligand binding domain (Nurr1-LBD) and a cyclopentenone prostaglandin are provided. Also provided are methods of identifying or designing Nurr1-modulating ligands and compounds based on the crystal structures described herein as well as the applications of said ligands and compounds as Nurr1 modulators or medicaments.

Co-crystals comprising the Nuclear receptor related 1 protein-ligand binding domain (Nurr1-LBD) and a cyclopentenone prostaglandin are provided. Also provided are methods of identifying or designing Nurr1-modulating ligands and compounds based on the crystal structures described herein as well as the applications of said ligands and compounds as Nurr1 modulators or medicaments.

The present invention provides for a system comprising (a) a first nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a nucleotide sequence of interest operatively linked to a promoter comprising a repressor polypeptide binding site, and (b) a second nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a repressor polypeptide having at least 70% amino acid identity with EilR, SmvR, KmrR, RcdA, or QacR; wherein expression of the nucleotide sequence of interest from the promoter is induced by the presence of a hydrophobic inducer, such as a hydrophobic cation inducer, such as a triarylmethane, acridine, phenazine, phenothiazine, or xanthene.

Described herein is the finding that increasing the frequency of Zscan4 activation in mouse ES cells not only enhances, but also maintains their developmental potency in long-term cell culture. As the potency increases, even a whole animal can be produced from a single ES cell injected into a 4N blastocyst at an unexpectedly high success rate. The studies disclosed herein indicate that ES cells acquire higher potency by going through the transient Zscan4 activation state more frequently than the regular state. Particularly disclosed herein is the finding that the constitutive presence of Zscan4-ERT2, even in the absence of its usual activator tamoxifen, can increase the frequency of endogenous Zscan4 activation in ES cells, resulting in the increase of developmental potency of the ES cells. Accordingly, provided herein are Zscan4-ERT2 fusion proteins and nucleic acid molecules and vectors encoding Zscan4-ERT2 fusion proteins. Further provided are methods of prolonging and/or enhancing stem cell pluripotency using the disclosed Zscan4-ERT2 nucleic acid molecules and fusion proteins.

This disclosure relates to compositions and methods for treating cancer using armored chimeric antigen receptor cells.

The compositions described herein include an epitope of a peptide that may elicit an immune response in a subject following administration. The compositions may comprise nucleic acids. The compositions may comprise peptides. The methods described herein include administering a composition comprising an epitope of a peptide to a subject in need thereof.

The compositions described herein include an epitope of a peptide that may elicit an immune response in a subject following administration. The compositions may comprise nucleic acids. The compositions may comprise peptides. The methods described herein include administering a composition comprising an epitope of a peptide to a subject in need thereof.

The invention features compositions comprising in vitro generated beta cells capable of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, methods of inducing beta cell maturation from embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cell-derived beta-like cells, and methods of using in vitro generated beta cells for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or a related disorder.