In some aspects, disclosed are methods and compositions for disc regeneration and/or repair using one or more components from conditioned media from fibroblasts. In certain cases, conditioned media is obtained from fibroblasts stimulated with one or more opioid receptor antagonists and one or more toll-like receptor agonists. Conditioned media from fibroblasts may be provided in an effective amount to an individual in need thereof.

Embodiments of the disclosure concern methods and compositions for immunotherapy for human papillomavirus infection and diseases associated therewith. In specific embodiments, methods concern production of immune cells that target one or more antigens of HPV16 and/or HPV18, including methods with stimulation steps that employ IL-7 and IL-15, but not IL-6 and/or IL-12. Other specific embodiments utilize stimulations in the presence of certain cells, such as costimulatory cells and certain antigen presenting cells.

A method for increasing dendritic cell migration ability, and a use thereof are disclosed. A method according to one aspect can increase the migration ability of mature dendritic cells and increase the induction, by dendritic cells, of inflammatory cytokine production, T lymphocyte proliferation and T lymphocyte polarization, and thus can be used for the prevention or treatment of immune-related diseases.

In some aspects, disclosed are methods and compositions for disc regeneration and/or repair using one or more components from conditioned media from fibroblasts. In certain cases, conditioned media is obtained from fibroblasts stimulated with one or more opioid receptor antagonists and one or more toll-like receptor agonists. Conditioned media from fibroblasts may be provided in an effective amount to an individual in need thereof.

This disclosure relates to compositions and methods of reversing senescence in T cells by interrupting vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) signaling and/or inhibiting phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3 kinase) inhibitor signaling and uses in managing cancer and chronic viral infections. In certain embodiments, the disclosure contemplates methods of reversing T cell senescence by mixing T cell in vitro with an agent that prevents VIP from interacting with VIP receptors and/or a PI3 Kinase inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the disclosure contemplates the expansion of senescent T cells by mixing with a PI3 kinase inhibitor, an agent that block VIP and VIP receptor signaling, a VIP degrading enzyme, and combinations thereof.

The present invention relates to immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope. Said peptides are modified such that CD4+ T-cell responses are obtainable that are much stronger than the CD4+ T-cell responses obtained with the same peptides not comprising said modification. In particular, the modification is the addition of a cysteine, insertion of a cysteine or mutation into a cysteine of a residue at a position adjacent to but outside the MHC-binding site of the peptide. Further disclosed are the use of such modified peptides in treating, suppressing or preventing diseases such as infectious or allergic diseases and autoimmune diseases, in preventing or suppressing graft rejection, or in the eradication of tumor cells.

Described herein are compositions and methods for treating a disease, particularly a cancer, with primed dendritic cells recognizing a tumor antigen. The methods may comprise storing, shipping and/or culturing dendritic cells, where the dendritic cells are stored on a hard surface. Lysis protocols are described where the lysis does not result in complete lysis of cells in order to provide cell surface molecules maintained in a cell surface-embedded state. Non-lethal Dengue virus strains are also provided for therapeutic purposes.

Described herein are compositions and methods for treating a disease, particularly a cancer, with primed dendritic cells recognizing a tumor antigen. The methods may comprise storing, shipping and/or culturing dendritic cells, where the dendritic cells are stored on a hard surface. Lysis protocols are described where the lysis does not result in complete lysis of cells in order to provide cell surface molecules maintained in a cell surface-embedded state. Non-lethal Dengue virus strains are also provided for therapeutic purposes.

Disclosed is a pro-inflammatory dendritic cell with improved ability to activate allo-geneic T-cells through the direct pathway of allorecognition. The dendritic cell is infected with an adenovirus. Further, the pro-inflammatory dendritic cell has been obtained by: providing an immature dendritic cell; infecting the dendritic cell with an adenovirus; and maturating the immature dendritic cell into a pro-inflammatory dendritic cell by addition of the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)-ligand poly-I:C, a TLR7/8-ligand, such as Resiquimod, and interferon gamma (IFN-) to induce maturation of the immature dendritic cell.

Disclosed are methods of preparing an isolated population of dendritic cells, isolated populations of dendritic cells prepared by the methods, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the isolated population of dendritic cells. Also disclosed are methods of treating or preventing cancer using the isolated population of dendritic cells or pharmaceutical compositions.