The present invention relates to a method for preparing oncolytic virus-containing mesenchymal stem cells having improved cell viability, a method for storing the oncolytic virus-containing stem cells produced by the method, and a cell therapeutic agent for cancer treatment containing the oncolytic virus-containing stem cells produced by the method. More particularly, an oncolytic virus is introduced into mesenchymal stem cells, followed by treatment with aspirin, so that the infection efficiency of the oncolytic virus may be increased, the replication time of the virus may be prolonged, and lysis of the stem cells by the virus may be prevented, thereby improving the viability and survival period of the stem cells and preparing anticancer stem cells having excellent activity. The anticancer stem cell therapeutic agent produced in this way is maintained at high viability during cold storage due to aspirin treatment, and thus is very useful medically and industrially.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for gene therapy, in particular, methods and compositions related to alterations in a capsid protein sequence for altering permissiveness of a promoter within a cell when the promoter and the capsid protein are present within the cell and the capsid protein and the promoter are in the context of a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) particle.

An expression vector containing appropriate mitochondrion-targeting sequences (MTS) and appropriate 3′UTR sequences provides efficient and stable delivery of a mRNA encoding a protein (CDS) to the mitochondrion of a mammalian cell. The MTS and 3′UTR sequences guide the CDS mRNA from the nuclear compartment of the cell to mitochondrion-bound polysomes, where the CDS is translated. This provides an efficient translocation of a mature functional protein into the mitochondria. A method of targeting mRNA expressed in the nuclear compartment of a mammalian cell to the mitochondrion is also provided. The vector and methods can be used to treat defects in mitochondrial function.

There is provided a vector for treating retinal degeneration associated with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS), wherein the vector comprises a promoter operably linked to a BBS1 gene, wherein the promoter is selected from a rhodopsin kinase (RK) promoter, a cytomegalovirus immediate-early (CMV) promoter and a CAG promoter, and wherein the vector is selected from an AAV2/8 vector, an AAV2/7m8 vector and an AAV9 vector. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the vector, and use of the vector in a method of treating retinal degeneration associated with BBS comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the vector to a patient suffering from BBS, wherein the vector is administered directly to the eye of the patient.

Accordingly. the present disclosure provides a population of genetically engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), comprising an expression vector comprising an Akt or HGF gene and a PD-L1 gene. Also provided is a method for synergistically increasing survival status and immunomodulatory ability of an MSC or enhancing proliferation of an MSC, comprising transfecting an MSC with an Akt or HGF gene and a PD-L1 gene and a method for preventing, ameliorating and/or treating an ischemia condition, enhancing neuroregeneration or reducing neuronal death, comprising administering an effective amount of a population of genetically engineered MSCs of the present disclosure to a subject in need thereof.

Provided are various embodiments relating to compositions and methods for treating vascular disease, including core NOX1 promoters and variants thereof for regulating expression of transgenes in response to vascular pathology and allowing for increased transgene loading capacity. Also provided are variant FOXP polypeptides having a zinc finger and leucine zipper region of a different FOXP polypeptide. Further provided are vectors comprising the core NOX1 promoters and/or a coding sequence for variant FOXP polypeptides described herein and optionally coding sequence(s) for one or more additional therapeutic polypeptide(s), such as IL10, for treating inflammation-associated diseases, such as vascular disease. Also provided is a screening model for testing therapeutic agents capable of treating established and ongoing atherosclerotic pathology.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to constructs comprising one or more Ca.sub.v3.2 inhibitory polypeptide that blocks Ca.sub.v3.2 T-type calcium channel activity and nociceptive dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron excitation. Also provided herein are methods for treating pain in a subject in need thereof. In particular, provided herein are methods comprising administering Ca.sub.v3.2 inhibitory peptide constructs to a dorsal root ganglion of the subject, whereby expression of the Ca.sub.v3.2 inhibitory polypeptides partially or fully inhibits Ca.sub.v3.2 T-type calcium channel activity in the DRG.

Methods for in vivo administration of the coding sequence of the sirt6 gene. In particular, methods that include the administration of adeno-associated virus vectors or recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors including the coding sequence of the sirt6 gene.

This disclosure provides methods and compositions for treating disorders or injuries that affect motor function and control in a subject. In one aspect, the invention a transgene product is delivered to a subject's spinal cord by administering a recombinant neurotrophic viral vector containing the transgene to the brain. The viral vector delivers the transgene to a region of the brain which is susceptible to infection by the virus and which expresses the encoded recombinant viral gene product. Also provided are compositions for delivery of a transgene product to a subject's spinal cord by administering a recombinant neurotrophic viral vector containing the transgene to the subject's brain.

A recombinant vector having an expression cassette is provided which comprises a modified human low density lipoprotein receptor (hLDLR) gene is provided, wherein said hLDLR gene encodes a modified hLDLR comprising (a) one or more of the following amino acid substitutions: L318H, N295D, H306D, V307D, N309A, D310N, L318H, and/or L318D; or (b) an amino acid substitution of any of (a) in combination with one or more of the following amino acid substitutions: K796, K809R and/or C818A. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing this vector and uses therefor in lowering cholesterol and/or treating familial hypercholesterolemia.