Abstract: A method of operating an articulatable surgical instrument. The method includes providing a rotary drive motion to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector and converting the rotary drive motion to an upper axial motion and a lower axial motion at locations that are distal to the articulation joint. The method further includes applying the upper axial motion to an upper portion of a firing member and applying the lower axial motion to a lower portion of the firing member such that the upper axial motion and lower axial motion drives the firing member distally through the surgical end effector from a starting position to an ending position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of culturing immune cells in a medium comprising at least about 5 mM potassium ion, wherein the medium is capable of increasing the stemness of the immune cells. In some aspects, the immune cells which are cultured using the methods provided herein are modified to express a ROR1-binding protein and have increased level of c-Jun protein. In some aspects, the immune cells are administered to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of culturing immune cells in a medium comprising at least about 5 mM potassium ion, wherein the medium is capable of increasing the stemness of the immune cells. In some aspects, the immune cells which are cultured using the methods provided herein are modified to overexpress c-Jun and/or comprise one or more exogenous nucleotide sequences encoding a ligand binding protein. In some aspects, the immune cells are administered to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are antibodies with conditional affinity for an antigen. The affinity of an antibody with conditional affinity for an antigen may be altered by a small molecule agent. Antibodies with conditional affinity may be used therapeutically alone or in combination with other therapeutics to treat cancer and other diseases.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to polynucleotides encoding a chimeric polypeptide comprising a c-Jun polypeptide, a ROR1-binding protein, and a truncated EGF receptor. Also provided are cells (e.g., T cells) expressing CARs comprising a ROR1-binding protein and overexpressing a c-Jun polypeptide. Overexpression of c-Jun in CAR T cells confers improved properties, e.g., reducing or preventing exhaustion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an AP-1 transcription factor (i.e., c-Jun). In some aspects, the nucleotide sequence is codon-optimized. In some aspects, the polynucleotides comprise one or more additional nucleotide sequences encoding a linker, signal peptide, antigen-binding domain, spacer, transmembrane domain, costimulatory domain, intracellular signaling domain, truncated EGFR, and combinations thereof. Also disclosed herein are cells, vectors, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such polynucleotides. The use of such polynucleotides, cells, vectors, and pharmaceutical compositions to treat a disease or disorder (e.g., cancer) is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure related to chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) comprising immunoglobulin (Ig) derived spacers, e.g., hinge or loop regions, fragments thereof, or combinations thereof. Ig derived spacer confers improved properties to the CARs, e.g., increased cytokine release with respect the CARs with spacers not derived from hinge regions and fragments thereof, loop regions from constant domains and fragments thereof, and combinations thereof. Also provided are cells expressing CARs comprising Ig derived spacers regions and methods to use the CARs to treat diseases or disorders, e.g., cancer. Some of the disclosed Ig derived spacers are fragments from, e.g., IgA1, IgA2, IgD, IgE, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, or IgM. In some aspects, the disclosed Ig derived spacers are derived from non-human immunoglobulins, e.g., mouse immunoglobulins such IgG2A. Other Ig derived spacer disclosed are modular constructs comprising several concatenated Ig hinges or fragments thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides inducible chimeric cytokine receptors responsive to a ligand, e.g., a small molecule or protein, uses of such receptors for improving the functional activities of genetically modified immune cells, such as T cells, comprising the inducible chimeric cytokine receptors, and compositions comprising such cells.