Acquisition of CD9 protein on the cell surface of NK cells confers an immunosuppressive phenotype to the NK cells, making them less effective in immunotherapy. CD9 can be transferred from tumor cells to NK cells present in the tumor environment through the process of trogocyotosis. Methods of enhancing NK cell anti-tumor activity can include evaluating NK receptor ligand expression within the tumor microenvironment(s) for patients eligible to receive NK cell immunotherapy.

The present invention provides isolated immune cells, immune cell populations and compositions, as well as markers, marker signatures and molecular targets characterising the immune cells. The cell products, substances, compositions, markers, marker signatures, molecular targets, kits of parts and methods of the present invention provide for new ways to characterise, evaluate and modulate the immune system and immune responses.

A method for assessing an effect of hypoxia on a tissue includes providing a sample of the tissue in a hermetically sealed container, determining a first amount of a reaction substrate (e.g., protocatechuic acid) to be introduced into the sealed container and determining a second amount of a reaction enzyme (e.g., protocatechuate dioxygenase) to be introduced into the sealed container. The method further includes introducing the reaction substrate and the reaction enzyme into the sealed container. At least one of the first amount of the reaction substrate and the second amount of the reaction enzyme is selected to induce at least one of a predetermined amount of hypoxia less than anoxia and a predetermined rate of hypoxia in the tissue during a reaction between the reaction substrate and the reaction enzyme. Values of properties of the tissue can be measured before and after the reaction to assess effects of hypoxia.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides methods for determining the propensity of a polypeptide or a fragment thereof, e.g., an antibody or a fragment thereof, to elicit production of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) and kits for performing such methods.

The present invention provides an ex vivo lymph node is provided. The ex vivo lymph node comprises an intact lobule in a chamber connected to an afferent lymphatic vessel and an efferent lymphatic vessel. The intact lobule is perfused with a lymphatic fluid into the chamber via the afferent lymphatic vessel and out of the chamber via the efferent lymphatic vessel and perfused with a vascular fluid into the intact lobule via an endogenous artery and out of the intact lobule via an endogenous vein. Also provided is a method for preparing the ex vivo lymph node. Further provided are methods for screening for an agent capable of changing the ex vivo lymph node, producing T lymphocytes or B lymphocytes and determining immunoreactivity of the ex vivo lymph node.

The disclosure relates to antibodies specific to FcRn, formulations comprising the same, use of each in therapy, processes for expressing and optionally formulating said antibody, DNA encoding the antibodies and hosts comprising said DNA.

The present application discloses a human T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma cell strain named as ZYXY-T1, and its construction method and use thereof. It was conserved in China Center for Type Culture Collection (Wuhan, China) on Jan. 20, 2021, and the preservation number was CCTCC NO: C202143. The present application is obtained by separating mononuclear cells from peripheral blood of one ETP-ALL patient, and culturing the cells in vitro for continuous natural passage. The strain has the typical surface antigen expression characteristics of ETP-ALL, that is, it does not express CD1α, CD5 or CD8, and highly expresses a stem cell marker CD34, and has good proliferation ability in vitro and tumorigenesis ability in vivo; it can be used as a cell material to study the occurrence and development mechanism of ETP-ALL, and can also be used to screen and evaluate ETP-ALL drugs to guide clinical medication.

The present invention provides novel compositions for suppressing inflammation and for treating inflammatory disorders. These compositions contain at least one PARS-derived anti-inflammatory peptide or polypeptide and/or at least one PARI-derived anti-inflammatory peptide or polypeptide. The PARS- and/or PARI-derived peptides typically contain an amino acid sequence that mimics the respective N-terminal sequence of Activated Protein C-cleaved PARS or PARI, e.g., after activated protein C cleavage at residue Arg41 in human PARS and after residue Arg.sup.46 in human PARI. The invention also provides therapeutic methods of using the anti-inflammatory compositions described herein to suppress undesired inflammation and to treat inflammatory disorders. Additionally provided in the invention are methods of screening candidate compounds to identity novel anti-inflammatory agents.

Described herein are methods for treating rheumatoid arthritis by determining whether a subject having rheumatoid arthritis will respond to an anti-TNF-alpha therapy based on the number of innate and adaptive immune cells in a sample from the subject prior to treatment.

The invention relates to a method for determining the suitability of a granulocyte for treating cancer. The invention also relates to said granulocytes, methods for identifying said granulocytes and stem cells capable of differentiating into said granulocytes, compositions and kits comprising the same, as well as uses of the same for treating cancer.