Activation of STimulator of INterferon Genes (STING) triggers cytokine production and facilitates tumor antigen cross-presentation. In an embodiment of the present invention, STING-dependent innate immune signaling pathway activators (STAVs) can be delivered to antigen presenting cells. In various embodiments of the present invention, the STAVs can be delivered in lipid nanoparticle formulations. In various embodiments of the present invention, the range of cancers amenable to STAV therapy can be extended using a non-cell-based nanoparticle strategy that effectively delivers Nano-STAVs into the Tumor Micro Environment (TME) to potently generate anti-tumor cytotoxic T cell activity. The STAV formulations can be introduced into solid tumors present in the mammal. Alternatively, the Nano-STAVs can be introduced through direct inoculation. The lipid nanoparticles stick to the tumor cells and are co-phagocytosed to activate STING in APC's.

Disclosed are methods of preparing an isolated population of dendritic cells, isolated populations of dendritic cells prepared by the methods, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the isolated population of dendritic cells. Also disclosed are methods of treating or preventing cancer using the isolated population of dendritic cells or pharmaceutical compositions.

Contemplated compositions and methods counteract evasive measures of a tumor by rendering access to the tumor microenvironment, tagging the tumor microenvironment with chemoattractant and/or cytokines, delivering or facilitating a cell-based therapy in the tumor microenvironment while providing inhibition of immune suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment.

Compositions for the treatment or prevention of multiple sclerosis are provided. In some embodiments, the composition comprises an isolated peptide comprising a partial amino acid sequence of a myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) protein, wherein the peptide activates regulatory T cells. In some embodiments, the composition comprises dendritic cells pulsed with a MOG peptide that activates regulatory T cells. In some embodiments, the peptide activates HLA-E-restricted regulatory CD8.sup.+ T cells.

A cell for immunotherapy of the present invention includes a nucleic acid encoding a Wilms tumor 1 gene product or a fragment of the Wilms tumor 1 gene product, wherein the nucleic acid including (i) a region encoding a fragment of the Wilms tumor 1 gene product, the fragment being indicated by positions 194 to 493 of amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or by positions corresponding to the positions 194 to 493 of amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 and (ii) only one AUG as a functional start codon, connected to a 5 terminal side of the region via 3m (m is 124-192) bases intervening between the AUG as the functional start codon and the 5 terminal side of the region, and a nucleic acid encoding CD1d, wherein the cell has been loaded with a glycolipid recognized by antigen receptor of NKT cell.

The present invention relates to cells engineered to express at least one cytokine and at least one antigen which induces the self differentiation of dendritic cell (DC) progenitor cells into functional antigen-presenting induced DC (iDC). Moreover, therapeutic uses of said iDC for regenerating the immune system after transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells are disclosed. Said iDC are also useful for generating mice with a functional endogenously regenerated humanized immune system producing antigen-specific T and B cell responses which can be used as animal models for the study of the human adaptive immune responses.

Described herein are compositions and methods for treating cancer through the combination of tumor antigen-pulsed dendritic cells and Dengue Virus. The combination of the two forms of therapeutic intervention provides enhanced tumor cell reduction compared to either alone. The cancer targeted by compositions and methods described herein may be a solid cancer or blood cancer.

This invention provides novel carbonic anhydrase (CAIX) nucleic acid and peptide sequences, as well as related methods and compositions, including anti-cancer immunogenic agent(s) (e.g. vaccines and chimeric molecules) that elicit an immune response specifically directed against cancer cells expressing a CAIX antigenic marker. The novel CAIX variant and related compositions are useful in a wide variety of treatment modalities including, but not limited to protein vaccination, DNA vaccination, and adoptive immunotherapy.

Provided is a method for manufacturing NKT-cell stimulating dendritic cells, the method including: a step for placing mononuclear cells in a culturing vessel and allowing some of the mononuclear cells to settle on a bottom surface of the vessel by keeping the culture still; a step for removing floating cells other than the cells that have settled on the bottom surface of the culturing vessel; a step for causing monocytes among the cells that have settled on the bottom surface to differentiate into immature dendritic cells by adding a predetermined factor to the culturing vessel; and a step for inducing mature dendritic cells into NKT-cell stimulating dendritic cells by adding ?-galactosylceramide to the culturing vessel.

Disclosed are means, methods, and compositions, useful for augmenting immune response to tumor cell death occurring in the body, wherein the tumor cell death acts as a source of antigens to stimulate an anti-cancer immune response. In one embodiment of the invention cryosurgery is performed in a manner to facilitate immune mediated killing of distant tumors, in effect causing an abscopal reaction, the amplification of the abscopal reaction is performed by preimmunization with antigen compositions generated to target tumor endothelium. In another embodiment the invention teaches the amplification of abscopal effect by preimmunizing with placental and/or tumor antigens prior to induction of necrotic cell death through means such as cryoablation, hyperthermia, radiation therapy, radiation therapy and intravenous vitamin C, and chemotherapy.