Disclosed herein are methods for culturing CAR-modified immune cells with at least one Retinoic Acid Receptor and/or Retinoid X Receptor active agent.

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 T cells that are modified (e.g., genetically and/or functionally) to maintain functionality under conditions in which unmodified T cells display exhaustion. Compositions and methods disclosed herein find use in preventing exhaustion of engineered (e.g., chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells) as well as non-engineered T cells thereby enhancing T cell function (e.g., activity against cancer or infectious disease).

The current invention provides methods to identify ?9?2T-cell receptors (?9?2TCR) that mediate anti-tumor responses. Surprisingly, it was now found that the CDR3 regions of the ?9-T-cell receptor chain and the ?2-T-Cell receptor chain (?2TCR chain) are of importance. Based on these findings, combinatorial-??TCR-chain-exchange (CTE) is proposed as an efficient method for identifying ?9?2TCRs that mediate anti-tumor responses. Using the method of the invention, specific sequences of the respective ?9TCR and ?2TCR chains were identified that mediate anti-tumor responses. Hence, the invention further provides for specific ?9?2TCRs, or fragments thereof, that may be used e.g. in diagnostics or treatment of cancer. The invention further provides for nucleic acid sequences, genetic constructs and retroviral vectors that can be used to express the ?9?2TCRs according to the invention.

The invention provides methods of increasing the efficacy of a T cell therapy in a patient in need thereof. The invention includes a method of conditioning a patient prior to a T cell therapy, wherein the conditioning involves administering a combination of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine.

Provided are a system and methods for selectively inducing expansion of a population of T cells in the absence of exogenous growth factors, such as lymphokines, and accessory cells for research purposes. The cell based expansion system and methods permit the long-term growth of CTLs, preferably human CTLs. In addition, T cell proliferation can be induced without the need for antigen, thus providing an expanded T cell population that is polyclonal with respect to antigen reactivity. Further provided are methods for using the system and methods to screen and identify antigens related to specific diseases or conditions, tumors, autoimmune disorders, or an infectious disease or pathogen, and to identify target molecule for research purposes, or for developing a vaccine based thereon.

Methods for diagnosing and prognosing autoimmune diseases and T cell lymphomas are provided, for example by measuring levels of intracellular osteopontin (OPN-i). Also provided are screening methods for identifying activators and inhibitors of the transcription factor Bcl6, which is involved in T cell activation/differentiation. Other aspects of the disclosure provide methods for enhancing adoptive T cell transfer.

Compositions disclosed herein, and methods of use thereof included those for inhibiting or reducing the incidence of cytokine release syndrome or cytokine storm in a subject undergoing CAR T-cell therapy, wherein the subjects are administered compositions comprising apoptotic cells or apoptotic cell supernatants. In certain instances compositions and methods of use thereof disclosed herein do not reduce the efficacy of the CAR T-cell cancer therapy. Disclosed herein are also compositions and methods of use thereof for decreasing or inhibiting cytokine production in a subject experiencing cytokine release syndrome or cytokine storm comprising administration of a composition comprising apoptotic cells or an apoptotic cell supernatant.

The invention provides methods of making immune effector cells (e.g., T cells, NK cells) that can be engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), compositions and reaction mixtures comprising the same, and methods of treatment using the same.

Disclosed herein are chimeric antigen receptor effector cells (CAR-ECs) and CAR-EC switches. The switchable CAR-ECs are generally T cells. The one or more chimeric antigen receptors may recognize a peptidic antigen on the CAR-EC switch. The CAR-ECs and switches may be used for the treatment of a condition in a subject in need thereof.

Described herein are compositions for increasing IL-12 production comprising IgG or a fragment thereof or a variant thereof and uses of said compositions for treating cancer and infectious diseases. Also described herein are compositions for decreasing IL-12 production comprising an agent that inhibits signaling mediated by interaction between FcRn and IgG and uses of said compositions for treating autoimmune diseases. Further described herein are methods for assessing efficacy of treatment by monitoring levels of various cytokines in the subject.