The present invention provides improved and/or shortened methods for expanding TILs and producing therapeutic populations of TILs, including novel methods for expanding TIL populations in a closed system that lead to improved efficacy, improved phenotype, and increased metabolic health of the TILs in a shorter time period, while allowing for reduced microbial contamination as well as decreased costs. Such TILs find use in therapeutic treatment regimens.

Methods of culturing T cells are provided. Accordingly there is provided a method of culturing T cells comprising adding to immune cells comprising T cells obtained from a subject having a pathology a non-cellular agent capable of binding 4-1BB and activating said 4-1BB signaling pathway; and culturing the immune cells with said agent for more than 7 days. Also provided are T cells obtainable by the method and uses thereof.

Methods of culturing T cells with a 4-1BBL fusion polypeptide are provided. Accordingly there is provided a method of culturing T cells comprising adding to immune cells comprising T cells obtained from a subject having a pathology a PD1-4-1BBL or a SIRPalpha-4-1BBL fusion polypeptide; and culturing the immune cells with the fusion polypeptide for more than 7 days. Also provided are T cells obtainable by the method and uses thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for efficiently producing a B cell population comprising B cells that recognize a specific antigen. According to the present invention, provided is a method for producing a B cell population, comprising: a step (c) of culturing a cell population comprising B cells together with a specific antigen in the absence of IL-21, in the absence of IL-4, and in the presence of a cytokine other than IL-21 and IL-4, while giving stimulation mediated by CD40 and a BAFF receptor to the cells; and a step (d) of culturing the cell population comprising B cells, while giving stimulation mediated by has to the cells, so as to obtain a B cell population comprising B cells that recognize the specific antigen.

The present invention provides methods for preselecting TILs based on PD-1 expression, as well as methods for expanding those preselected PD-1 positive TILs in order to produce therapeutic populations of TILs with enhanced tumor-specific killing capacity (e.g., enhanced cytotoxicity).

The present invention relates to methods employing soluble multivalent activating agents for the selective in vitro and ex vivo activation and expansion γδ T-cell population(s), including specific γδ T-cell subpopulation(s) of interest and admixtures thereof, and methods for using the same for therapeutic purposes. Methods and compositions of the disclosure are useful in the treatment of various cancers, infectious diseases, and immune disorders.

The present invention relates to artificial antigen presenting cell (aAPC) scaffolds to provide cells with specific functional stimulation to obtain phenotypic and functional properties ideal to mediate tumor regression or viral clearance. In particular, the scaffolds of the present invention comprise antigens, such as peptide-MHC (pMHC) class I molecules, and specific combinations of cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules to allow effective expansion and functional stimulation of specific T cells.

The present disclosure relates to genetically modified B cells, including memory cells, differentiated to plasmablasts or plasma cells useful for long tem in vivo expression of a transgene, such as a specific antibody or other protein therapeutic. Also disclosed are methods of producing the cells and methods of treatment.

A modified immune cell that has attenuated expression and/or activity of YTH N6-Methyladenosine RNA Binding Protein 2 (YTHDF2), and enhanced anti-tumor activity. A composition for stimulating T cell-mediated immune response to a cancer cell and/or a tumor antigen, including an agent capable of attenuating the expression and/or activity of YTHDF2, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. A composition for treating cancer, comprising an agent capable of attenuating the expression and/or activity of YTHDF2. A method for activating an immune cell. A method for generating an immune cell. A method for treating a disease, disorder or condition associated with an expression of a tumor antigen in a subject in need thereof. A method for stimulating a T cell-mediated immune response to a cancer cell and/or a tumor antigen in a subject in need thereof.

A method for producing natural killer cells is disclosed. The method comprises isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a blood sample; isolating at least one of CD56+ cells and/or CD3−/CD56+ cells from the PBMCs; and co-culturing the at least one of CD56+ cells and/or CD3−/CD56+ cells with a combination of feeder cells in the presence of a cytokine. The method can further comprise freezing and thawing the CD56+ cells and/or CD3−/CD56+ cells. A composition for treating cancer is also disclosed. The composition comprises the CD56+ natural killer cells produced by the disclosed method and a cytokine.