The present invention provides compositions and methods for targeting an extracellular matrix derived (EMD) peptide predominantly to an injured tissue, as opposed to an uninjured tissue in vivo. The targeted EMD peptide facilitates the repair and/or regeneration of the injured tissue by providing a surface for cells to attach and grow, thereby facilitating the repair and/or regeneration of the injured tissue.

Methods and compositions for inducing CD8+ T cells to express a CD62L.sup.hiCD44.sup.lo na?ve-like phenotype are provided. One embodiment provides a pharmaceutical composition containing CD8+ T cells induced to express a CD62L.sup.hiCD44.sup.lo na?ve-like phenotype and optionally an excipient. The CD8+ T cells can be induced by contacting them with an effective amount of a MEK1/2 inhibitor. An exemplary MEK1/2 inhibitor is Selumetinib. The induced CD8+ cells can be used to treat cancer, reduce tumor burden, or treat infections in a subject in need thereof.

The disclosure provides a method of producing modified stem memory T cells (e.g. CAR-T cells) for administration to a subject as, for example an adoptive cell therapy.

A nucleic acid sequence is provided that encodes a chimeric protein comprising a ligand that comprises a naturally occurring or modified follicle stimulating hormone sequence, e.g., an FSHp sequence, or fragment thereof, which ligand binds to human follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor, linked to either (a) a nucleic acid sequence that encodes an extracellular hinge domain, a transmembrane domain, a co-stimulatory signaling region, and a signaling endodomain; or (b) a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a ligand that binds to NKG2D. The vector containing the nucleic acid sequence, the chimeric proteins so encoded, and modified T cells expressing the chimeric protein, as well as method of using these compositions for the treatment of FSHR-expressing cancers or tumor cells are also provided.

This disclosure relates to selectin inhibitors, compositions, and methods related thereto. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to glycopeptides that contain one more modified amino acids conjugated to a saccharide or polysaccharide. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to uses of the glycopeptides as anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, or anti-metastatic agents.

The present disclosure is directed to novel multispecific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) proteins and DNA sequences encoding these proteins. The CARs comprise at least two extracellular domains fused, via a transmembrane domain to a cytoplasmic signaling domain comprising two signaling domains. The disclosure further relates to nucleic acids encoding the novel CARs, to host cells expressing the novel CARs, and to methods of using the CARs to co-stimulate effector functions in the cells and for using cells expressing the receptors for treatment of disease and viral infections. The disclosure also relates to methods of generating a recombinant T cell with reduced susceptibility to HIV infection.

This disclosure relates to CD8 positive stem-like chronic memory cells for uses in managing diseases and conditions associated with T cell exhaustion and compositions related thereto. In certain embodiments. the CD8 positive cells are PD-1 positive or PD-1 negative. CD62L positive. CD127 positive, and CD44 positive. In certain embodiments. this disclosure relates to methods of treating cancer. chronic viral infections. or chronic diseases comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of CD8 positive stem-like chronic memory cells optionally in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. In certain embodiments. the CD8 positive stem-like chronic memory cells are derived from the patient to be treated. are optionally expanded ex vivo, and optionally express a chimeric antigen receptor.

The invention discloses a recombinant protein (P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 and Neural Retina-specific Leucine Zipper) PSGL-1-NRL chimeric protein comprising a Selectin Binding domain and a non-covalent dimerization domain, which is a leucine zipper and is more preferably the leucine zipper domain of the human or mouse Neural Retina-specific Leucine Zipper. The chimeric protein further comprises a covalent dimerization domain with at least one cysteine suitable to form a disulfide bridge with another chimeric protein to form a homodimer. In the chimeric protein, the PSGL-1 domain corresponds to the extracellular region of Human PSGL-1 and is more preferably the selectin binding region of the mature protein. The chimeric protein is correctly post-translationally modified and is efficiently expressed in a mammalian system. It is sulfated, O-linked glycosylated and sialylated and binds P, E and L selectin, allowing in vivo and in vitro targeting for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

The present disclosure relates to genetically modified T cells comprising a transgene encoding an engineered antigen specific receptor, wherein expression of an endogenous gene selected from MNK1, MNK2, or both are inhibited in the genetically modified T cell in order to enhance central memory T cell subsets in cellular immunotherapy compositions.

The present invention relates to an artificially manipulated immune system having an improved immune effect. More particularly, the present invention relates to an immune system having functions artificially altered which comprises artificially manipulated immunoregulatory elements and cells containing the same. Contemplated according to a particular embodiment is an immune system comprising artificially manipulated immunoregulatory genes such as PD-1, CTLA-4, A20, DGK?, DGK?, FAS, EGR2, PPP2R2D, PSGL-1, KDM6A, and TET2, and/or expression products thereof