The invention relates to a method for activating and expanding NKT-like cells in vitro. The method according to the present invention utilizes nucleated somatic cells derived from allogeneic or heterologous subjects to activate and proliferate NKT-like cells of a subject in vitro, and can increase the overall number of the NKT-like cells, the expression of activation markers and the number of killing effector molecules.

Disclosed are compositions of cells, libraries of such cells and methods of making T cell populations for treatment of disorders such as cancer and viral infections. T cell composition comprise cell subpopulations stimulated, in some embodiments, with FRAME, survivin and/or WT1.

The invention relates to a three-dimensional in vitro alveolar lung model comprising essentially the four cells types as follows: alveolar type II epithelial cells able to secrete (lung laying) surfactant, endothelial cells which forms the inner lining of capillaries providing a permeable barrier, dendritic-like cells, such as non-differentiated THP-1, linking innate and adaptive immunity and macrophage-like cells, able to participate to defense mechanisms by ingesting foreign materials by phagocytosis. The invention also relates to a process for preparing said model, and its use for assessing the irritation potential or toxicity of inhalable products such as particles or molecules on the alveolar barrier of lungs, and also for determining and/or predicting the sensitizing effects of inhalable products such as particles or molecules on the alveolar barrier of lungs.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for use in generating an immune response against a target peptide antigen. Also included, are methods for stabilizing, treating, and eliminating various diseases and conditions associated with target peptide expression.

Provided are methods for isolating T-cells with T cell receptors (TCRs) optimized for reactivity to specific peptides and decreased cross-reactivity to non-target peptides. Advantageously, TCRs of the invention can be optimized to target cancer antigens and peptides while having reducing reactivity to healthy cells. Methods of the invention utilize a novel combination of culturing conditions that increase T-cell activation and allow for validation of TCR activity. Culturing conditions of the invention further reduce culturing times generally needed to achieve expanded reactive T-cells. Because of the robust nature of the activation and validation conditions of the present invention, variants of identified TCRs can also be optimized and validated for their response to peptides, including cancer peptides.

The present invention is targeted towards reinvigorating exhausted Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) in vitro by co-culturing excised TIL containing tumor fragments with checkpoint inhibitors, stimulating the TILs with other interleukins known to revert T cell exhaustion), and/or inhibiting the effect of regulatory T cells secreted factors (such as IL-10) thereby creating a favorable tumor microenvironment (TME) where exhausted T-cells can expand faster and to higher numbers than currently established TIL expansion protocols.

Provided methods of obtaining a plurality of T cell receptors specifically recognizing a target tumor antigen peptide from an individual that has clinically benefitted from an immunotherapy, such as Multiple Antigen Specific Cell Therapy. Also provided tumor-specific TCRs, engineered immune cells expressing the TCRs and methods of treating a disease using the engineered immune cells.

The present invention provides KOC1-derived epitope peptides having the ability to induce cytotoxic T cells. The present invention further provides polynucleotides encoding the peptides, antigen-presenting cells presenting the peptides, and cytotoxic T cells targeting the peptides, as well as methods of inducing the antigen-presenting cells or CTLs. The present invention also provides compositions and pharmaceutical compositions containing them as an active ingredient. Further, the present invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing cancer, and/or preventing postoperative recurrence thereof, using the peptides, polynucleotides, antigen-presenting cells, cytotoxic T cells or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention. Methods of inducing an immune response against cancer are also provided.

Provided herein are tumor-antigen VGLL 1 specific T cell receptors. The TCR may be utilized in various therapies, such as autologous cell transplantation, to treat a cancer. Methods for expanding a population of T cells that target VGLL 1 are also provided.

Provided are T cell receptors (TCR) and TCR variable regions that can selectively bind a Hormad1 peptide/MHC complex. The TCR may be utilized in various therapies, such as autologous Hormad1-TCR adoptive T cell therapy to treat a cancer, such as a solid tumor expressing Hormad1. Methods for expanding related populations of T cells are provided.