The present invention provides methods of preparing a population of activated T cells by co-culturing T cells with dendritic cells loaded with a plurality of tumor antigen peptides. Also provided are methods of treating cancer in an individual using the activated T cells, pharmaceutical compositions and kits for cell-based cancer immunotherapy.

The present invention provides methods of preparing a population of activated T cells by co-culturing T cells with dendritic cells loaded with a plurality of tumor antigen peptides. Also provided are methods of treating cancer in an individual using the activated T cells, pharmaceutical compositions and kits for cell-based cancer immunotherapy.

Provided is a method for preparation of a composition comprising activated human CD8.sup.+ and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes. The method entails use of mature dendritic cells as feeder cells added at an early stage in CD4.sup.+ mediated activation of the CD8.sup.+ cells. Also provided is a method for treatment of cancer using the cells obtained from the process.

The current disclosure relates to methods for treating ovarian cancer based on specific antigen expression of the cancer. Furthermore, the expressed antigen may be used in immunotherapeutic methods for treatment of the ovarian cancer. Aspects of the disclosure relate to immunotherapies targeting CT45 polypeptides, methods for treating ovarian cancer based on CT45 expression, and kits for detecting CT45 polypeptides and nucleotides.

The current invention concerns an isolated mesenchymal stem cell wherein said cell is measuredpositive for mesenchymal markers CD29, CD44 and CD90; and negative for MHC class II molecules,whereinsaid cell secretes immunomodulatory prostaglandin E2 cytokine when present in an inflammatory environment or condition. The current invention also concerns a cell composition comprising said cells and the use thereof in the treatment of immune-related diseases and inflammatory conditions.

The invention relates to in vitro cell culture methods for expanding epithelial cells from head and neck tissue, including head and neck tumour tissue, to obtain organoids. The invention relates to culture media suitable for use with said methods, organoids obtainable or obtained by said methods and uses of said culture methods, media and organoids in drug discovery and validation, toxicity assays, diagnostics and therapy.

Spheroid microtissues that can mimic native tissue-like structure and function, spheroid production methods that are high-throughput, suitable for efficient production, maintainable over long-term culture, and/or offer repeatable control over size distribution. Spheroids that have blood vessels, including spheroids with functional, blood-perfused vascular networks upon injection in vivo. Dissolvable hydrogel microwell arrays for high throughput parallel formation of spheroids in a single pipetting step and easy retrieval for downstream applications. A method to produce prevascularized microtissues in sufficient numbers to form a macrotissue in vivo for therapeutic purposes. This method is based on sacrificial release of dissolvable microwell templates, a novel and scalable strategy which enables gentle harvesting of microtissues with control over size and composition. The method forms microtissues containing endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells, which are co-cultured under dynamic conditions and self-organize into blood-vessel units.

The invention provides improved methods for cell therapy. In particular, the invention provides therapeutic compositions of enhanced hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells having improved engraftment and homing properties, and methods of making the therapeutic compositions. The invention further provides methods of improving the efficacy of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell transplantation including transplanting the therapeutic composition to subjects in need of hematopoietic system reconstitution.

Among regulatory T cells, natural regulatory T cells (nTregs) ensure the control of self-tolerance and are currently tested in clinical trials in autoimmune diseases and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Here the inventors show that based on CD39/CD26 markers, the human nTreg population is comprised of 5 major cell subsets each representing a distinct state of maturation. Phenotypic and genetic characteristics of the subsets illustrate the structural parental maturation between subsets which further correlates with expression of regulatory factors. Importantly, the inventors also show that blood nTreg CD39/CD26 profile, remaining constant over a 2year period in healthy persons but varying between individuals, represents a novel biomarker for monitoring chronic diseases, as illustrated in their preliminary study on AI (dermatomyositis, rheumatoid arthritis and leukemias). Accordingly, the present invention relates to the use of CD26 and CD39 as phenotypic markers for assessing maturation of natural Treg cells.

A bioreactor system for conditioning of pluripotent cells or cell media is provided. In further aspects, conditioned pluripotent cells and methods for making such cells are provided.