Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for cell-based immunotherapies that simultaneously target the tumor microenvironment (TME) via NKG2D ligands and tumor cells via tumor-associated antigens, specifically using immune effector cells as the platform due to their reduced toxicity against normal tissue. In some embodiments, immune effector cells co-express an NKG2D cytotoxic CAR and a CAR directed against a tumor-associated antigen that provides costimulatory signals to the immune effector cell, thus killing only in the presence of both antigens specifically within the TME. In contrast, within normal tissue that might express the tumor-associated antigen, but where self-HLA is also expressed, the costimulatory signal by itself is insufficient for immune effector cell activation, thereby preventing off-tumor toxicity.

The present disclosure relates to bicistronic polypeptide constructs for use in allogeneic gene therapy, for example, CAR-T cell therapy. The bicistronic constructs comprise first polynucleotide encoding a therapeutic molecule (e.g., a CAR-T or an antibody) and a second polynucleotide encoding an Immune Surveillance Masking Molecule (ISMM). The ISMM comprises a human leukocyte antigen-E genetically fused to a non-functional version, e.g., a fragment, of the protein knock-out by the insertion of the bicistronic construct, e.g., beta-2 microglobulin or B2M. Also provided are vectors comprising the bicistronic constructs, cells (e.g., CAR-T cells), and methods of use. Also provided are kits and articles of manufacture. The present disclosure also provides four novel insertion sites that can be used to insert an expression construct in the B2M gene.

The present invention provides a kit of vectors for transducing an immune cell with multiple transgenes comprising: (i) a first vector which comprises a first transgene and a nucleotide sequence encoding a transcription factor and; and (ii) a second vector which comprises a second transgene wherein expression of the second transgene within a host cell is dependent upon expression of the transcription factor.

Provision of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising a disialoganglioside (GD2)-binding domain which comprises?a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) having complementarity determining regions (CDRs) with the following sequences:?b) a light chain variable region (VL) having CDRs with the following sequences: T cells expressing such a CAR are useful in the treatment of some cancers.

The present invention relates to T cell compositions and methods of using the same in the context of therapy and treatment. In particular, the invention provides chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells that are modified to maintain functionality under conditions in which unmodified CAR T cells display exhaustion. Compositions and methods disclosed herein find use in inhibiting or reversing CAR T cell exhaustion (e.g., by modulating CAR surface expression) thereby enhancing CAR T cell function. Compositions and methods of the invention find use in both clinical and research settings, for example, within the fields of biology, immunology, medicine, and oncology.

The technology relates in part to methods for inducing partial apoptosis of cells that express an inducible caspase polypeptide. The technology further relates in part to methods for inducing partial apoptosis of cells that express an inducible modified caspase polypeptide, having a modified dose response curve to the multimeric ligand inducer. The technology also relates in part to methods for cell therapy using cells that express the inducible caspase polypeptide or the inducible modified caspase polypeptide, where the proportion of caspase polypeptide-expressing cells eliminated by apoptosis is related to the administered amount of the multimeric ligand inducer.

A technique for enhancing functions such as proliferation ability and imparting an activity of capturing cytokines which may cause side effects in immune cells for use in the adoptive immunotherapy is disclosed. A chimeric cytokine receptor having a ligand-binding region with a cytokine-binding region of a cytokine receptor at the N-terminal side and a T-cell activating region having the transmembrane domain and the intracellular domain of an IL-7 receptor chain at the C-terminal side is provided. Amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 of the transmembrane domain has an insertion of one of: (a) amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 between positions 243 and 244, (b) amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 3 between positions 241 and 242, (c) amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 4 between positions 244 and 245, (d) amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 between positions 244 and position 245, or (e) amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 between positions 246 and 247.

The present disclosure provides chimeric antigen receptors, compostions, and methods thereof. In one embodiment the present disclosure provides a method of treating autoimmune diseases, asthma, and preventing or mediating organ rejection in a subject.

Provided herein are chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) comprising an antigen binding domain (e.g., CD19, CD30, GD2, etc.), transmembrane domain (e.g., CD28), and a cytoplasmic domain (e.g., CD27, 4-1BB, etc.). In some aspects, the disclosure relates to use of the CARs in T cells, compositions, kits and methods.

Disclosed herein are chimeric receptors comprising an extracellular domain with affinity and specific for the Fc portion of an immunoglobulin molecule (Ig), an Fc-binding domain; a transmembrane domain; at least one co-stimulatory signaling domain; and a cytoplasmic signaling domain comprising an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). Also provided herein are nucleic acids encoding such chimeric receptors and immune cells expressing the chimeric receptors. Such immune cells can be used to enhance antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and/or to enhance antibody-based immunotherapy, such as cancer immunotherapy.