Therapeutic and diagnostic methods are provided, which methods relate to the induction of expression of calreticulin on phagocytic cells. Specifically, the methods relate to macrophage-mediated programmed cell removal (PrCR), the methods comprising increasing PrCR by contacting a phagocytic cell with a toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist; or down-regulating PrCR by contacting a phagocytic cell with an inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). In some embodiments, an activator of TLR signaling or a BTK agonist is provided in combination with CD47 blockade.

Therapeutic and diagnostic methods are provided, which methods relate to the induction of expression of calreticulin on phagocytic cells. Specifically, the methods relate to macrophage-mediated programmed cell removal (PrCR), the methods comprising increasing PrCR by contacting a phagocytic cell with a toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist; or down-regulating PrCR by contacting a phagocytic cell with an inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). In some embodiments, an activator of TLR signaling or a BTK agonist is provided in combination with CD47 blockade.

The present invention relates to a method of culturing primitive-like macrophages from stem cells, a kit when used in the method thereof and uses of the primitive like macrophage for in-vitro disease models and for screening compounds for therapy. One embodied culture method comprises contacting and incubating embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells with a serum-free culture media comprising a GSK3 inhibitor to differentiate stem cells into cells of the mesoderm lineage, followed by incubation with a culture media comprising Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) to differentiate the mesoderm into cells of hematopoietic lineage, maturing hematopoietic cells and incubating these cells with a culture media comprising M-CSF to drive differentiation into primitive-like macrophages. Another embodiment comprises incubating the stem cells with serum-free culture media comprising FGF2 and BMP4 to induce differentiation into cells of the mesoderm lineage, followed by incubating the cells with a culture media comprising FGF2, BMP4, Activin A and VEGF to differentiate the cells of the mesoderm lineage into cells of the hematopoietic cell lineage, maturing the cells of the hematopoietic cell lineage and lastly, incubating the matured hematopoietic cells with culture media comprising M-CSF to drive the differentiation of hematopoietic cells into primitive-like macrophages.

The present invention relates to a method of using a receptor (e.g., chimeric antigen receptor—CAR) that activates an immune response upon binding a cancer cell ligand in conjunction with a target-binding molecule that targets a protein or molecule CI for removal or neutralization to generate enhanced anti-cancer immune cells. The present invention also relates to engineered immune cells having enhanced therapeutic efficacy and uses thereof.

A cancer vaccine composition for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0206-positive persons, comprising a protein product of the tumor suppressor gene WT1 or a partial peptide thereof.

A cancer vaccine composition for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0206-positive persons, comprising a protein product of the tumor suppressor gene WT1 or a partial peptide thereof.

The present invention relates to the use of immunoregulatory macrophages for treating diseases that are associated with pathological changes of the blood vessels. The present invention particularly relates to the use of immunoregulatory macrophages for treating micro- and macroangiopathies of the lower limbs. The invention furthermore relates to the use of immunoregulatory macrophages for promoting tissue remodelling to facilitate wound healing. Pharmaceutical compositions for use in the recited treatments are also disclosed which comprise the immunoregulatory macrophages.

The present invention relates to the use of immunoregulatory macrophages for treating diseases that are associated with pathological changes of the blood vessels. The present invention particularly relates to the use of immunoregulatory macrophages for treating micro- and macroangiopathies of the lower limbs. The invention furthermore relates to the use of immunoregulatory macrophages for promoting tissue remodelling to facilitate wound healing. Pharmaceutical compositions for use in the recited treatments are also disclosed which comprise the immunoregulatory macrophages.

Methods are described for differentiating stem and post-natal cells into sex hormone-producing cells that can be administered to a patient autologously or allogeneically in order to maintain in balance, or rebalance, their hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.

Methods are described for differentiating stem and post-natal cells into sex hormone-producing cells that can be administered to a patient autologously or allogeneically in order to maintain in balance, or rebalance, their hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.