Synthetic, persistent RNA vectors for controlled expression of one or more heterologous polynucleotide sequences, each of the one or more heterologous polynucleotide sequences encoding for a reprogramming factor, are described. The vectors comprise a mechanism for silencing (off) and initiation or resumption (on) control of expression of the one or more reprogramming factors in the cell, tissue, or organ. Methods of using the vectors are also described, for example, to treat the age-related disease or condition, where the methods provide for treatment of the disease or condition, and in some embodiments, with retention of cellular identity.

This invention provides polypeptides represented by the following formula:

H.sub.2N-A-X—B-A-X—B—HOOC

which are based on HMGB1 as well as compositions comprising, and treatment methods using, such polypeptide.

The present invention relates to a peptide and its use as a medicament, in particular in the treatment of metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cholestatic liver disease.

The disclosure is directed to compositions and methods comprising genetically engineered fibroblasts for inhibiting progression of a cancerous tumor.

The present disclosure provides methods of promoting a persistent effector function of immune cells, comprising modifying the cells to overexpress c-Jun and reduced levels of a NR4A gene and/or protein. Also provided are modified cells, e.g., immune cell, which have been modified to overexpress c-Jun and express reduced levels of NR4A gene and/or protein. Overexpressing c-Jun and simultaneously reducing expression levels of a NR4A gene and/or protein leads to exhaustion/dysfunction resistant cells, which are apoptosis resistant and also immune checkpoint resistant, and also to the maintenance of anti-tumor function in tumor microenvironments.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods that involve using compositions containing one or more of ETV2, FOXC2, FLI1 and a miR-200b inhibitor for directly reprogramming somatic cells into induced vasculogenic cells both in vitro and in vivo. These compositions and methods are useful for a variety of purposes, including the development of pro-angiogenic therapies.

Bioluminescent biosensors useful for monitoring and/or quantifying, in vitro or in vivo, activity of the Hippo signaling pathway. The biosensors monitor LATS kinase activity or YAP-TEAD interaction. The biosensors may be used in methods for monitoring and/or quantifying in real-time, in vitro or in vivo, activity of the Hippo signaling pathway, wherein the activity may be LATS kinase activity and/or YAP-TEAD interaction. The biosensors may be provided in kits for monitoring and/or quantifying in real-time, in vitro or in vivo, activity of the Hippo signaling pathway, wherein the activity may be LATS kinase activity and/or YAP-TEAD interaction.

The present invention relates to a method of producing recombinant binding proteins with binding specificity for a peptide-MHC (pMHC) complex. The invention also relates to recombinant binding proteins comprising one, two or more designed repeat domain(s), preferably designed ankyrin repeat domain(s), with binding specificity for a pMHC complex, and to such binding proteins which further comprise a binding agent having binding specificity for a protein expressed on the surface of an immune cell, preferably a T-cell. In addition, the invention relates to nucleic acids encoding such binding proteins or repeat domains, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such binding proteins or nucleic acids, and the use of such binding proteins, nucleic acids or pharmaceutical compositions in methods for treating or diagnosing diseases, including cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.

Provided are methods, compositions, and cells for use in adoptive cell therapy for the treatment of cancer. The methods involve administering an effective amount of cells to a subject, wherein the cells are modified ex vivo to suppress endogenous Zbtb20 expression and/or activity within the modified cells. The cells may comprise a dominant negative Zbtb20 capable of suppressing endogenous Zbtb20 activity, at least one shRNA capable of suppressing endogenous Zbtb20 expression, or at least one sgRNA capable of suppressing endogenous Zbtb20 expression. The cells may further comprise an exogenous TCR and/or CAR suitable for treating cancer. The method can further involve administering one or more additional cancer therapies, such as cells which express at least one exogenous TCR and/or CAR suitable for treating cancer. The method can provide various advantages, such as a reduction and/or elimination of an amount of cancer cells in the subject.

There is provided a mutant KLF protein that can induce reprogramming of a somatic cell at a higher efficiency than a KLF protein having a natural amino acid sequence. There is also provided a method for efficiently producing an iPS cell by using the mutant KLF protein. There is provided a mutant KLF protein having an amino acid substitution, or a peptide fragment thereof containing the amino acid substitution.