The present application provides peripheral blood mononuclear cells comprising an antigen, methods of manufacturing such PBMCs, and methods of using such PBMCs, such as for modulating an immune response in an individual. In some embodiments, the PBMCs are conditioned by incubating the PBMC in the presence of an adjuvant.

Methods are described for the isolation and selection of a heterogeneous bone marrow cell population, called NCS-01, that is effective at treating neurodegeneration. For example, NCS-01 cells are shown to treat neurodegeneration caused by ischemia. In vivo studies demonstrate that selected NCS-01 cell populations treat neurodegeneration in a standard rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) animal model under conditions of transient or permanent total arterial occlusion. These studies also disclose that when the neurodegeneration is caused by ischemic stroke, combining the administration of a selected NCS-01 cell population with thrombolytic agents and/or mechanical methods of clot removal leads to a decrease in the volume of infarction caused by acute onset neurodegeneration. The disclosed cell therapy promises to make a significant clinical impact on patient survival after stroke.

The disclosure provides a method of new use of an immunomodulatory drug comprising a water-soluble acidic peptidoglycan from sprouts of the plant Solanum tuberosum (WSPG) for prevention and treatment of metastatic tumor growth, comprising an application of a therapeutically effective dose of a said immunomodulatory drug or a pharmaceutical composition of a said immunomodulatory drug with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, or a pharmaceutically effective amount of mammalian immune cells treated with said immunomodulatory drug WSPG in vitro/ex vivo to a patient in need thereof.

The present invention relates to, among others, an in vitro method of modifying a cell graft containing immune cells comprising the steps of incubating a cell graft containing immune cells with an anti CD4 antibody wherein said incubating is carried out for from 1 minute to 7 days, b) removing unbound antibody from said graft; as well as to corresponding modified grafts and uses. The invention further relates to the modification of antibodies reactive to the CD4 human leukocyte antigen to provide anti-CD4 antibodies that have a reduced number of potential T-cell epitopes but retain the ability to bind to CD4, such as to an anti human CD4-antibody comprising a heavy chain immunoglobulin variable domain (VH) and a light chain immunoglobulin variable domain (VL), wherein at least one T cell epitope located outside the CDRs of said immunoglobulin variable domains is removed from said immunoglobulin variable domains. Preferably, the specificity and mode of action of the anti-CD4 antibodies are not affected by the modification(s).

A method of treating or preventing a sickle cell disease in a subject in need thereof is disclosed. The method comprising: (a) transplanting immature hematopoietic cells into the subject; and (b) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an isolated population of non-GVHD inducing anti-third party cells comprising cells having a central memory T-lymphocyte (Tcm) phenotype, the cells being tolerance inducing cells and capable of homing to the lymph nodes following transplantation.

An isolated cell having a central memory T-lymphocyte (Tcm) phenotype, the cell being tolerance-inducing cell and capable of homing to the lymph nodes following transplantation, the cell being transduced to express a cell surface receptor comprising a T cell receptor signaling module is disclosed. Methods of generating same and using same are also disclosed.

In various aspects and embodiments, the present invention provides methods for preparing innervated tissue. In various embodiments the invention further provides innervated tissue generated using the methods described herein. In various embodiments the inclusion of optogenetically transducible TENGs or Micro-TENNs in the innervated tissue allows the modulation of tissue or organs by using light to stimulate the optogenetically transducible TENGs or Micro-TENNs.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for inducing antigen-specific tolerance in a subject. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition comprising an apoptotic body and an epitope of an antigen. Also provided herein are methods of preparing and administering the composition. The composition and methods provided herein can induce antigen-specific tolerance in a subject.

An isolated cell having a central memory T-lymphocyte (Tcm) phenotype, the cell being tolerance-inducing cell and capable of homing to the lymph nodes following transplantation, the cell being transduced to express a cell surface receptor comprising a T cell receptor signaling module is disclosed. Methods of generating same and using same are also disclosed.

In one aspect, a method of treating a subject having or at risk of having graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) generally includes administering to the subject a plurality of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) effective to ameliorate at least one symptom or clinical sign of graft-versus-host disease compared to a suitable control subject. In another aspect, a method of treating a tumor in a subject generally includes administering to the subject an anti-tumor therapy and co-administering to the subject an inflammasome inciting agent in an amount effective to increase inflammasome activation of MDSCs sufficiently to reduce suppressor function of the MDSCs.