Abstract: Methods of preventing or treating autoimmune disease are disclosed. In some cases, subjects with having or at risk of developing autoimmune disease are identified as possessing one or more autoimmunity-susceptibility HLA alleles at one or more HLA loci. In many cases, the HLA loci are selected from Class I and Class II loci, for example Class I A, B, and C, and Class II DQ, DR, and DP. In many cases, subjects suffering from or at risk of developing an autoimmune disease may be administered a plurality engineered autologous HSCs modified to carry and express a variant susceptibility allele having at least one mutation in the antigen binding cleft that alters antigen binding and/or specificity of that variant HLA molecule. In many embodiments, the engineered HSCs are CD34+ immune cells that express one or more modified HLA proteins.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are non-human animals (e.g., rodents, e.g., mice or rats) genetically engineered to express a human or humanized T cell receptor (TCR) from a human or humanized TCR locus comprising a non-human TCR non-coding sequence, and optionally a humanized T cell co-receptor (e.g., humanized CD4 and/or CD8 (e.g., CD8? and/or CD8?)), and/or a human or humanized major histocompatibility complex that binds the humanized T cell co-receptor (e.g., human or humanized MHC II (e.g., MHC II ? and/or MHC II ? chains) and/or MHC I (e.g., MHC I?) respectively, and optionally human or humanized ?2 microglobulin). Also provided are embryos, tissues, and cells expressing the same. Methods for making the genetically engineered animals are also provided. Methods for using the genetically engineered animals for developing human therapeutics are also provided.

Abstract: A method for freeze-drying a hydrogel composition is disclosed, the method comprising providing the hydrogel composition, wherein the hydrogel composition comprises cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals, at least one saccharide, at least one amino acid, and biologics; and freeze-drying the hydrogel composition, thereby obtaining a freeze-dried hydrogel composition.

Abstract: Systems comprising a microfluidic device are provided for maintaining and analyzing tissue slices. Methods for maintaining tissue slices in a microfluidic device are further provided.

Abstract: Provided are chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) comprising an NGK2D ecto domain. Provided are compositions, cells and cell therapies comprising the same. Further provided are methods of treatment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling freeze-drying of a hydrogel wherein the method comprises adjusting the residual water content of the freeze-dried hydrogel, and to a freeze-dried hydrogel composition comprising nanoscale cellulose and a at least one biomolecule selected from an oligosaccharide or a disaccharide. The present disclosure further concerns the use of the freeze-dried hydrogel composition for cell culturing, a cell culturing scaffold as well as a process for manufacturing a reconstituted hydrogel.

Abstract: In some aspects, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods that are useful for treating inflammatory disorders and conditions. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors and particles encoding a transgene that expresses a Myxomavirus serine proteinase inhibitor (Serp) protein (e.g., Serp-1) and methods for treating inflammatory disorders using the same.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a cell or tissue culture system comprising a solid support for the culture of adherent cells or adherent tissues and a plurality of cationic dendrimers associated to the surface of the solid support. Each cationic dendrimer includes one or more functional amine group. The cationic dendrimer is protonated at physiological pH. The cell or tissue culture system can be used for the culture of adherent cells or tissues and be used for the differentiation of stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to engineered T-cells, method for their preparation and their use as medicament, particularly for immunotherapy. The engineered T-cells of the invention are characterized in that the expression of beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) and/or class II major histocompatibility complex transactivator (CIITA) is inhibited, e.g., by using rare-cutting endonucleases able to selectively inactivating by DNA cleavage the gene encoding B2M and/or CIITA, or by using nucleic acid molecules which inhibit the expression of B2M and/or CIITA. In order to further render the T-cell non-alloreactive, at least one gene encoding a component of the T-cell receptor is inactivated, e.g., by using a rare-cutting endonucleases able to selectively inactivating by DNA cleavage the gene encoding said TCR component.

Abstract: Homogeneous human amniotic fluid stem cell clones are provided. The clones serve as direct bioassays to test the effect of drugs, nutraceuticals, vitamins and toxic agents on fetus growth, differentiation and development, and may be administered in form of pharmaceutical compositions for reconstructive engineering and for the treatment of cardiac, neurological and osteoarthritic diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides stem cells enriched with healthy functional mitochondria, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these cells and methods of use thereof for treating ocular diseases, disorders and symptoms thereof where the disease may or may not be associated with acquired mitochondrial dysfunction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to T cells capable of co-expressing T cell receptors (“TCR”) together with CD8 polypeptides and the use thereof in adoptive cellular therapy. The present disclosure further provides for modified CD8 sequences, vectors, and associated methods thereof.

Abstract: The disclosure provides polynucleotides containing regions of the Myosin 15 (Myo15) promoter, as well as vectors containing the same, that can be used to promote expression of a transgene specifically in hair cells. The polynucleotides described herein may be operably linked to a transgene, such as a transgene encoding a therapeutic protein, so as to promote hair cell-specific expression of the transgene. The polynucleotides described herein may be operably linked to a therapeutic transgene and used for the treatment of subjects having or at risk of developing hearing loss or vestibular dysfunction.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition includes a silicified cell or fraction thereof, a cationic layer disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the silicified cell or fraction thereof, and an immunomodulatory moiety bound to at least a portion of the cationic layer. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical composition includes a silicified cell or fraction thereof, a cationic layer disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the silicified cell or fraction thereof, an anionic layer disposed on at least a portion of the cationic layer, and an immunomodulatory moiety bound to at least a portion of the anionic layer.

Abstract: Methods of preventing or treating autoimmune disease are disclosed. In some cases, subjects with having or at risk of developing autoimmune disease are identified as possessing one or more autoimmunity-susceptibility HLA alleles at one or more HLA loci. In many cases, the HLA loci are selected from Class I and Class II loci, for example Class I A, B, and C, and Class II DQ, DR, and DP. In many cases, subjects suffering from or at risk of developing an autoimmune disease may be administered a plurality engineered autologous HSCs modified to carry and express a variant susceptibility allele having at least one mutation in the antigen binding cleft that alters antigen binding and/or specificity of that variant HLA molecule. In many embodiments, the engineered HSCs are CD34+ immune cells that express one or more modified HLA proteins.

Abstract: A co-culture apparatus includes: a first airtight container; a co-culture device disposed outside of the first airtight container; a first culture medium source disposed in the first airtight container and storing a first culture medium; a second culture medium source storing a second culture medium having a lower dissolved oxygen concentration than that of the first culture medium; and a first conduit connected to the co-culture device and the first culture medium source. The co-culture device includes: a membrane having a first main surface, and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface for culturing cells; a first flow path partially defined by the first main surface and disposed such that the first culture medium flows therethrough; and a second flow path partially defined by the second main surface and disposed such that the second culture medium flows therethrough. The first flow path has an inlet connected to the first conduit.

Abstract: A device for producing globules of adipose tissue, comprising a service unit and a single-use kit which may be housed in the service unit, the single-use kit comprising a working chamber, a circuit for introducing an adipose tissue sample into the working chamber, a circuit for drawing globules of adipose tissue from the working chamber, a circuit for introducing a solution for washing the tissue sample into the working chamber, and a size-reducing circuit which connects an exit route of the working chamber to an entry route of the working chamber, the service unit having an electronic controller and a means for the forced circulation of the adipose tissue sample through the size-reducing circuit.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cell population comprising safe adherent stem cells maintaining a normal karyotype and a method for producing the cell population, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the cell population. According to the present invention, a production method of a cell population comprising adherent stem cells, comprising obtaining a cell population in which the proportion of KCNAB1-positive adherent stem cells in the cell population is 85% or more, is provided.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein generally relates to methods and systems for converting stem cells into specific tissue(s) or organ(s) through directed differentiation. In particular, the invention disclosed herein relates to methods and systems for promoting vascularized human intestinal organoid tissue having an intestine-specific EC transcriptional signature from hindgut spheroid tissue produced in vitro from the described methods.

Abstract: A stable injectable collagen-based hydrogel delivery platform and method is provided to obtain the viscosity, post-injection stability and mechanical properties needed of an injectable collagen matrix via incorporating alginate and calcium sulfate (CaSO4) into the matrix. The hydrogel (Alg/Col hydrogel) is shear-thinning, injectable through commercially available needles and stable right after injection.