An exosomal composition is provided that comprises a therapeutic agent encapsulated by an exosome. The therapeutic agent can be a phytochemical agent, a chemotherapeutic agent, or a Stat3 inhibitor. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the exosomal compositions are also provided. Methods for treating an inflammatory disease or a cancer are further provided and include administering an effective amount of an exosomal composition to a subject in need thereof to thereby treat the inflammatory disorder or the cancer.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for use in mediating an immunosuppressive reaction. The compositions of the invention comprise exosomes having immunosuppressive activity. Such exosomes may be derived from a variety of different cell types, including antigen presenting cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages. Prior to isolation of exosomes, the cells may be genetically engineered to express molecules capable of enhancing the immunosuppressive activity of said exosomes and/or may be exposed to one or more agents, such as cytokines or cytokine inhibitors, which are also capable of enhancing the immunosuppressive activity of exosomes. The present invention also relates to the use of such exosomes for the treatment of diseases and disorders associated with undesirable activation of the immune system. The present invention also includes exosomes isolated directly from serum that have been shown to be immunosuppressive.

We describe a particle secreted by a mesenchymal stem cell and comprising at least one biological property of a mesenchymal stem cell. The biological property may comprise a biological activity of a mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium (MSC- CM) such as cardioprotection or reduction of infarct size. The particle may comprise a vesicle or an exosome.

The present invention relates to exosomes comprising a transferrin targeting moiety on their surface, methods of producing them and to the use of such exosomes for delivering genetic material and/or biotherapeutic proteins or peptides or chemotherapeutic agents in vivo, in particular the use of such exosomes in methods of gene therapy or gene silencing, or delivery of other therapeutic agents.

The present invention relates to exosomes, loaded with genetic material and methods of producing them and to the use of such exosomes for delivering genetic material in vivo, in particular the use of such exosomes in methods of gene therapy or gene silencing.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for selectively expressing a polypeptide in a membrane vesicle. The invention also relates to genetic constructs and recombinant cells suitable to produce such membrane vesicles. This invention also relates to such functionalized membrane vesicles as well as to methods of making antibodies, methods of producing or regulating an immune response as well as to methods of screening or identifying binding partners using the same. The invention more particularly uses lactadherin or portions thereof to selectively express polypeptides in membrane vesicles, of natural or synthetic origin. This invention can be used in experimental, research, therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic areas.

The invention provides compositions comprising mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) derived exosomes, and methods of their use in subjects having certain lung diseases including inflammatory lung disease.

Immunotherapy comprises administration of an alkaloid at a dose sufficient to induce IL-2 production in dendritic cells in a patient. The alkaloid induces the production of IL-2 in dendritic cells. The alkaloids need not be naturally occurring, and may be synthetic analogues or derivatives of naturally occurring counterparts. Such analogues or derivatives are preferably pharmaceutically acceptable analogues, salts, isomers or derivatives as herein defined. However, preferred alkaloids are phytochemicals. Such phytochemicals may be isolated from natural sources or synthesised in vitro. Particularly preferred are alkaloids is selected from piperidine alkaloids; pyrroline alkaloids; pyrrolidine alkaloids; pyrrolizidine alkaloids; indolizidine alkaloids and nortropane alkaloids.

Methods, devices and systems for capturing biomarkers are provided. In particular, methods, compositions, and systems that utilize affinity capture devices comprising a processing chamber, affinity capture agent and porous membrane are provided.

Methods, cells, and compositions of matter are disclosed for performing stem cell transplants in patients that have not been previously immunosuppressed. Specific disclosed are methods of matching, methods of treating the stem cell graft, and use of engraftment-assisting cells and agents.