The invention features compositions featuring (a) one or more of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and human C-terminal CTGF peptide; and (b) one or more of insulin and IGF-1; and methods of using such compositions to reduce cardiac tissue damage associated with an ischemic event or to enhance engraftment of a cell in a cardiac tissue.

Isolated IMP-3-derived epitope peptides having Th1 cell inducibility are disclosed herein. In preferred embodiments, such a peptide of the present invention can promiscuously bind to MHC class II molecules and induce IMP-3-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in addition to Th1 cells. Such peptides are thus suitable for use in enhancing immune response in a subject, and accordingly find use in cancer immunotherapy, in particular, as cancer vaccines. Also disclosed herein are polynucleotides that encode any of the aforementioned peptides, APCs and Th1 cells induced by such peptides and methods of induction associated therewith. Pharmaceutical compositions that comprise any of the aforementioned components as active ingredients find use in the treatment and/or prevention of cancers or tumors.

Isolated IMP-3-derived epitope peptides having Th1 cell inducibility are disclosed herein. In preferred embodiments, such a peptide of the present invention can promiscuously bind to MHC class II molecules and induce IMP-3-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in addition to Th1 cells. Such peptides are thus suitable for use in enhancing immune response in a subject, and accordingly find use in cancer immunotherapy, in particular, as cancer vaccines. Also disclosed herein are polynucleotides that encode any of the aforementioned peptides, APCs and Th1 cells induced by such peptides and methods of induction associated therewith. Pharmaceutical compositions that comprise any of the aforementioned components as active ingredients find use in the treatment and/or prevention of cancers or tumors.

In alternative embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating, ameliorating or protecting (preventing) an individual or a patient against a disease, an infection or a condition responsive to an increased paracrine polypeptide level in vivo comprising: providing a paracrine polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid or gene operatively linked to a transcriptional regulatory sequence; or an expression vehicle, a vector, a recombinant virus, or equivalent, having contained therein a paracrine-encoding nucleic acid or gene, and the expression vehicle, vector, recombinant virus, or equivalent can express the paracrine-encoding nucleic acid or gene in a cell or in vivo; and administering or delivering the paracrine polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid or gene operatively linked to a transcriptional regulatory sequence, or the expression vehicle, vector, recombinant virus, or equivalent, to an individual or a patient in need thereof, thereby treating, ameliorating or protecting (preventing) the individual or patient against the disease, infection or condition responsive to an increased paracrine polypeptide level.

Provided herein are compositions and methods to make and use engineered cells, for the purpose of increasing the cell density of a culture comprising metazoan cells and for the production of a cultured edible product.

Provided herein are compositions and methods to make and use engineered cells, for the purpose of increasing the cell density of a culture comprising metazoan cells and for the production of a cultured edible product.

Provided herein are improved gene therapy vectors and methods of use, in some embodiments, comprising sequences for improved expression and cellular targeting of a therapeutic protein.

Provided herein are compositions and methods to make and use engineered cells, for the purpose of increasing the cell density of a culture comprising metazoan cells and for the production of a cultured edible product.

Provided herein are compositions and methods to make and use engineered cells, for the purpose of increasing the cell density of a culture comprising metazoan cells and for the production of a cultured edible product.

The present disclosure provides for non-viral compositions and methods for delivering nucleic acids into eukaryotic cells (e.g., stem cells) with high efficiency and low genotoxicity.