The invention relates to methods, peptides, nucleic acids and cells for use in isolating and expanding human T cell populations in an antigen-specific manner for immunodiagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The invention also relates to professional antigen presenting cells derived from pluripotent human stem cells, and to customizable antigen presentation by the antigen presenting cells.

Disclosed herein are switches for regulating the activity of a chimeric antigen receptor effector cells (CAR-ECs). The switches generally comprise a chimeric antigen receptor-interacting domain (CAR-ID) and a target interacting domain (TID). The switch may further comprise a linker. Further disclosed herein are methods of using the switches for the treatment of one or more conditions or diseases in a subject in need thereof.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for inhibiting one or more diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) isoform in a cell in order to enhance the cytolytic activity of the cell. In one embodiment, the cells may be used in adoptive T cell transfer. For example, in some embodiments, the cell is modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). Inhibition of DGK in T cells used in adoptive T cell transfer increases cytolytic activity of the T cells and thus may be used in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including cancer, infection, and immune disorders.

Immunogenic peptides from tumor associated stromal cell antigens, including combinations of such peptides, are disclosed herein. In some examples the peptides are useful for methods of eliciting an immune response. In additional examples the peptides are useful for methods of treating cancer. Methods for decreasing vascularization of a tumor using a Protein Delta Homolog 1 (DLK1) protein or a nucleic acid encoding the protein are also disclosed.

The present invention provides an agent for promoting graft survival which can suppress rejection without use of existing immunosuppressants, an organ preservation solution capable of maintaining the freshness of an organ excised from a donor, and the like. An agent for promoting graft survival or an organ preservation solution is prepared, which comprises 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) or a derivative thereof, or a salt of ALA or the derivative and an iron compound as active ingredients. Preferable examples of the ALAs can include ALA and various esters such as methyl ester, ethyl ester, propyl ester, butyl ester, and pentyl ester of ALA, and their hydrochlorides, phosphates, and sulfates. Preferable examples of the iron compound can include sodium ferrous citrate.

A method of generating a CD4.sup.+FoxP3.sup.+ Treg cell, the method includes administering at least one complement antagonist to a naive CD4.sup.+ T cell at an amount effective to substantially inhibits C3a receptor (C3aR) and/or C5a receptor (C5aR) signal transduction in the CD4.sup.+ T cell, induce TGF-?1 expression of the CD4.sup.+ T cell, and induce differentiation of the of the naive CD4.sup.+ T cell into a CD4.sup.+FoxP3.sup.+ Treg cell.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for modifying TCR genes, using nucleases (zinc finger nucleases or TAL nucleases) to modify TCR genes.

The invention is directed to modified T cells, methods of making and using isolated, modified T cells, and methods of using these isolated, modified T cells to address diseases and disorders. In one embodiment, this invention broadly relates to TCR-deficient T cells, isolated populations thereof, and compositions comprising the same. In another embodiment of the invention, these TCR-deficient T cells are designed to express a functional non-TCR receptor. The invention also pertains to methods of making said TCR-deficient T cells, and methods of reducing or ameliorating, or preventing or treating, diseases and disorders using said TCR-deficient T cells, populations thereof, or compositions comprising the same.

Described herein are compositions of matter and methods for treating cancer. The compositions comprise altered human telomerase polypeptides containing T cell epitopes that have been altered to increase immunogenicity. The methods comprise administration of the polypeptides or nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA encoding the polypeptides, to individuals afflicted with, or at risk of, developing cancer.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with expression of CD19 and/or CD22, e.g., by administering a recombinant T cell or natural killer (NK) cell comprising a CD22 CAR and a CD19 CAR as described herein. The disclosure also relates to CAR molecules specific to CD22 and/or CD19, methods of making a cell comprising the same and vectors encoding the same.