Regimens useful treating a human patient having familial hypercholesterolemia are described. Such regimens comprise co-administration of corticosteroids with a suspension of replication deficient recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) comprising LDLR.

Described herein are nucleic acid molecules and complexes useful as i-switch pH reporters that have increased sensitivities as a pH reporter and have alternate pH reporting capacity ranges. Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method for determining pH comprising providing a nucleic acid complex comprising: a first single-stranded nucleic acid molecule comprising the sequence C.sub.nXC.sub.nYC.sub.nZC.sub.n (SEQ ID NO. 6) wherein C is cytosine; X, Y and Z are each one or more of adenine, thymine, guanine, or combinations thereof; and n is greater than or equal to 2; and wherein at least 2 cytosine residues of the first single-stranded nucleic acid molecule are modified; and a second single-stranded nucleic acid molecule that is partially or fully complementary to the first single-stranded molecule, wherein a first label is conjugated to the first single-stranded nucleic acid molecule or the second single-stranded nucleic acid molecule; and wherein the first label is capable of producing a signal, wherein the intensity of the signal varies as a function of the conformation of the nucleic acid complex; and measuring the intensity of the signal and determining the pH from the measured signal.

The invention involves a method for modulating leukocyte activity, comprising delivering to a leukocyte a vector containing nucleic acid molecule(s), whereby the leukocyte contains Cas9 and the vector expresses one or more RNAs to guide the Cas9 to introduce mutations in one or more target genetic loci in the leukocyte, thereby modulating expression of one or more genes expressed in the leukocyte. The invention also involves identifying genes associated with leukocyte responses and experimental modeling of aberrant leukocyte activation and diseases associated with leukocytes by introducing mutations into leukocytes. The invention comprehends testing putative treatments with such models, e.g., testing putative chemical compounds that may be pharmaceutically relevant for treatment or gene therapy that may be relevant for treatment, or combinations thereof. The invention allows for the study of genetic diseases and putative treatments to better understand and alleviate leukocyte associated diseases.

Provided herein are compositions, systems, kits, and methods for treating a subject with a disease or condition by administering a composition comprising fullerenes to the subject such that H2S is generated in said subject. In certain embodiments, the disease or condition is associated with inflammation and/or below normal H2S levels. In certain embodiments, the fullerenes are polyhydroxy fullerenes (PHFs).

The present disclosure relates to a dual-function protein for regulating blood glucose and lipid metabolism, wherein said dual-function protein comprises a human GLP-1 analog and human FGF21. In the present disclosure, provided is a method for preparing said dual function protein, and also provided is the use of said dual-function protein in the preparation of a biological substance for treating type 2 diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, fatty liver disease and/or metabolic syndrome. The dual-function protein provided in the present disclosure can synergistically regulate blood glucose and lipid levels in vivo, and satisfy multiple requirements for patients with type 2 diabetes such as lowering blood glucose, relieving hepatic steatosis, reducing body weight and improving metabolic disorders of circulating lipids.

The present invention provides a method of constituting a tissue construct in vitro using a tissue without depending on scaffold materials.

A method of integrating a biological tissue with a vascular system in vitro, comprising coculturing a biological tissue with vascular cells and mesenchymal cells. A biological tissue which has been integrated with a vascular system by the above-described method. A method of preparing a tissue or an organ, comprising transplanting the biological tissue described above into a non-human animal and differentiating the biological tissue into a tissue or an organ in which vascular networks have been constructed. A method of regeneration or function recovery of a tissue or an organ, comprising transplanting the biological tissue described above into a human or a non-human animal and differentiating the biological tissue into a tissue or an organ in which vascular networks have been constructed. A method of preparing a non-human chimeric animal, comprising transplanting the biological tissue described above into a non-human animal and differentiating the biological tissue into a tissue or organ in which vascular networks have been constructed. A method of evaluating a drug, comprising using at least one member selected from the group consisting of the biological tissue described above, the tissue or organ prepared by the method described above, and the non-human chimeric animal prepared by the method described above. A composition for regenerative medicine, comprising a biological tissue which has been integrated with a vascular system by the method described above.

As described herein, phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate 4-kinases (PIP4Ks) have an allosteric function in addition to their catalytic activity. The allosteric function suppresses PIP5K-mediated PI(4,5)P.sub.2 synthesis and insulin-dependent conversion to PI(3,4,5)P.sub.3. Further described herein are methods for treatment of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, a obesity, cancer, immune deficiency, autoimmune disease, infection, or a combination thereof.

The present disclosure provides an immunodeficient NOD.Cg-Prkdc.sup.scidIl2rg.sup.tm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG™) mouse models that comprise an inactivated mouse Flt3 allele, a nucleic acid encoding human interleukin 3 (IL3), a nucleic acid encoding human granulocyte/macrophage-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a nucleic acid encoding human stem cell factor (SCF), and a HLA-A2/H2-D/B2M transgene encoding (i) a human B2-microglubulin (B2M) covalently linked to MHC class 1, alpha 1, and alpha2 binding domains of a human HLA-A2.1 gene and (ii) alpha3 cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains of murine H2-db.

The disclosure provides thiol-containing alkyl fatty acid compound formulations for intravenous, parenteral or oral administration. The compositions of the present technology have optimal controlled bioavailability and are useful for treating metabolic dysfunctions such as pre-diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and diabetes. Also provided are methods of treatment comprising the daily administration of the disclosed thiol-containing alkyl fatty acid formulations.

The present invention provides new adeno-associated virus-derived vectors and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same for the treatment of lysosomal storage disorders and specially, for the treatment of mucopolysaccharidoses Type IIID.