Disclosed are nucleic acid constructs comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a vitelliform macular dystrophy-2 (VMD2) promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding Rap1a. Disclosed are vectors comprising the nucleic acid constructs disclosed herein. Disclosed are compositions comprising the disclosed nucleic acid constructs or vectors. Also disclosed are methods of treating a subject having age-related macular degeneration comprising administering one or more of the disclosed nucleic acid constructs, vectors, or compositions to a subject in need thereof.

The present disclosure relates to compositions for reprogramming cells into conventional dendritic cells (cDC), particularly into cDC type 2 (hereinafter referred to ascDC2 orCD11b-positive dendritic cells), methods and uses thereof. The present disclosure relates to the development of methods for making conventional dendritic cells With antigen presenting capacity from differentiated, multipotent or pluripotent stem cells by introducing and expressing isolated/synthetic transcription factors. More particularly, the disclosure provides methods for obtaining conventional dendritic cells (cDC), particularly cDC type 2 or CD11b-positive dendritic cells, by direct cell reprogramming With the surprisingly use of combinations of specific transcription factors.