Compositions, methods, and kits are provided for determining whether a subject is at risk of developing insulin resistance. In particular, phosphorylated Akt, reactive oxygen species (ROS), SIRT1, eNOS, CDH13, IRS1 and NO production have been identified as biomarkers associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The diagnostic methods comprise measuring the level of at least one biomarker in induced pluripotent stem cells derived from somatic cells of the subject, which have been differentiated into endothelial cells (IPSC-ECs).

The present invention relates to fluidic systems for producing IgG antibodies from co-cultures of white blood cells. In some embodiments, a microfluidic device containing co-cultures of an autologous whole peripheral white blood cell population including B cells, are used for providing antigen specific IgG antibody production from differentiating B cells (plasma cells). More specifically, high levels of IgM and IgG classes of antibodies are harvested from fluids flowing through the device. In some embodiments, IgG is produced during activation in the presence of antigen, including but not limited to therapeutic immunogenic compounds, e.g. engineered antibodies, vaccines, etc. In some embodiments, such co-cultures are further exposed to drug compounds e.g. for preclinical safety testing and individualized personal drug responses. In some embodiments, such antibody producing microfluidic devices are contemplated for use in companion diagnostic and complementary assays.

Disclosed herein is a method for ex vivo expanding tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for use in adoptive cell therapy (ACT). The method involves culturing tumor fragments from the subject in a culture medium containing IL-2 and a 41BB agonist in an amount effective to expand tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes with enriched tumor-reactivity and specificity. Also disclosed is a method for treating a tumor in a subject that involves treating the subject with nonmyeloablative lymphodepleting chemotherapy, and administering tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes expanded by the disclosed methods.

Disclosed herein are compositions and uses thereof for detecting HIV latency reversal, isolating cells with HIV latency reversal, treating HIV infection, and/or reversing latency in HIV infected CD4+ T cells. In some aspects, disclosed herein is a composition and uses thereof for treating HIV infection, wherein the composition comprises one or more mature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDGs) having an HIV peptide bound to a Class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule and a herpesvirus peptide bound to one or more Class II MHC molecules.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and compositions related to the preparation of immune cells, including engineered T cells comprising at least one exogenous γδ T cell receptor, for example one that is selected to target a specific disease or pathogen (e.g., cancer or COVID-19). The T cells may be produced from human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and are suitable for allogeneic cellular therapy because they do not induce graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and resist host immune allorejection. Consequently, such cells are suitable for off-the-shelf use in clinical therapy.

The application describes a contractile cellular biomaterial that is particularly well suited to regenerative therapy of tissue affected by myocardial infraction. The biomaterial comprises a contractile tissue which is contained in an optionally porous solid substrate. The contractile tissue is formed by differentiating stem cells, in particular mesenchymal stem cells. In addition to being contractile, the biomaterial can have inducible paracrine activity. The biomaterial has, in particular, the advantage of not needing to be frozen in order to be conserved.

Methods and composition for production of T cells are provided. Also provided are therapeutic methods using engineered T cells. For example, in certain aspects methods include preparing three dimensional cell culture compositions comprising stroma cells and hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells in a serum-free medium for producing T cells.

Embodiments of the disclosure encompass methods and compositions for bone repair and bone injury healing. In some embodiments, the bone repair and bone injury healing utilizes the enhancement of migration of certain types of bone cells upon stimulation by a particular cytokine. In specific embodiments, migration of periosteal skeletal stem cells upon delivery of CCL5 and/or TNFα is enhanced and fosters bone repair and healing.

The present invention is directed to Virus specific Cytokine-Induced Killer cells (CIK), their use as a medicament and to a method for obtaining these Virus specific Cytokine-Induced Killer cells.

Devices, systems, and methods can be used for the automated production of dendritic cells (DC) from dendritic cell progenitors, such as monocytes obtained from peripheral blood, and the automated generation of immunotherapeutic products from those dendritic cells, all within a closed system. The invention makes it possible to obtain sufficient quantities of a subject's own DC for use in preparing and characterizing vaccines, for activating and characterizing the activation state of the subject's immune response, and to aid in preventing and/or treating cancer or infectious disease.