Disclosed herein novels methods and compositions that are useful for enhancing stem cell homing to, and engraftment in the target, tissues of a subject following stem cell transplant. In certain aspects, the inventions disclosed herein comprise a step of administering oncostatin M or a biologically active fragment, mutant, analog or fusion construct thereof to the subject and thereby increasing the stem cell homing and engraftment efficiency to the target tissues of the subject. Such methods and compositions may be used to improve subject survival and outcomes following, for example, hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using IL-6 antagonists such as anti-IL-6 antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat mucositis (e.g., oral mucositis) including persons on a treatment regimen with a drug or chemotherapy and/or radiation for cancer (e.g., head and neck cancer) that is associated with increased risk of mucositis, including oral mucositis.

Described is a low voltage, pulsed electrical stimulation device for reducing inflammation in a subject, which can be useful in the treatment of concussions, traumatic brain injury, cancer, and so forth.

Compositions and methods of activating dendritic cells with LMP1 and LMP1-activated dendritic cell based compositions and methods are effective for dendritic cell therapy and provide an adjuvant function for vaccine administration. LMP1 or LMP1-CD40 chimeric protein may be used to activate and mature dendritic cells. LMP1 and LMP1-activated dendritic cells act as an adjuvant to enhance the cellular immune response. Also disclosed herein are kits for activating dendritic cells and for preparing a vaccine formulation. Administration of the dendritic cells transfected with LMP1 can induce an immune response against cancer or infection. The mature dendritic cells may comprise an antigen and at least one cytokine in addition to LMP1. Use of LMP1 or LMP1-CD40 provides a way to activate and mature dendritic cells that retain functional and migratory abilities without the side effects that result from maturing the dendritic cells using PGE.sub.2.

Compositions and methods of activating dendritic cells with LMP1 and LMP1-activated dendritic cell based compositions and methods are effective for dendritic cell therapy and provide an adjuvant function for vaccine administration. LMP1 or LMP1-CD40 chimeric protein may be used to activate and mature dendritic cells. LMP1 and LMP1-activated dendritic cells act as an adjuvant to enhance the cellular immune response. Also disclosed herein are kits for activating dendritic cells and for preparing a vaccine formulation. Administration of the dendritic cells transfected with LMP1 can induce an immune response against cancer or infection. The mature dendritic cells may comprise an antigen and at least one cytokine in addition to LMP1. Use of LMP1 or LMP1-CD40 provides a way to activate and mature dendritic cells that retain functional and migratory abilities without the side effects that result from maturing the dendritic cells using PGE.sub.2.

The present invention relates to methods of and compositions comprising cytokines for, improving the success rate of embryo implantation and the success rate of pregnancy rates in females, by providing an immunopermissive uterine environment prior to insemination or implantation of embryos. The methods of the present invention are used to make the uterus more receptive or less hostile to, for example, transferred embryos, sperm or other allografted tissue.

The present disclosure describes the use of immune modulators to promote nerve growth and regeneration, particularly in the context of nerve deficit stemming from trauma and disease. In particular, the disclosure provides for the use of CXCR4 antagonists, STAT3 activators, and an agent that increases levels of nitric oxide, either alone or in any combination of these drugs, in surgery performed to treat nerve deficit conditions, especially peripheral nerve deficit conditions caused by cut injury or tear injury, the method especially useful in bridging nerve gaps of 3 cm or longer.

A method for suppressing an immune response is provided. The method involves administration of isolated lymphoid tissue-derived suppressive stromal cells (LSSC) to a subject in need of such treatment in an amount effective to suppress the immune response in the subject. The invention also involves a method to isolate LSSC by digesting lymphoid tissue fragments using a combination of an enzyme mix and agitation and then collecting the LSSC. Pharmaceutical preparations comprising LSSC are also provided.

Disclosed herein are methods of treating a subject exhibiting a solid tumor that expresses Glypican-3 (GPC3). The methods typically utilize g GPC3 chimeric antigen receptor immunoresponsive cells to a subject in need thereof to effect killing of tumor cells.

The present disclosure describes the use of immune modulators to promote nerve growth and regeneration, particularly in the context of nerve deficit stemming from trauma and disease. In particular, the disclosure provides for the use of of CXCR4 antagonsists, STAT3 activators, and an agent that increase nitric oxide, alone or in combination, to treat nerve deficit conditions.