Conjugates of GM-CSF and IL-7, and Compositions Thereof

Abstract

In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to conjugates comprising GM-CSF and IL-7 and uses related thereto, e.g., enhancing the adaptive immune system. Typically the GM-CSF and IL-7 are connected by a polymer linker, e.g., polypeptide. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to nucleic acids encoding these polypeptide conjugates, vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding polypeptide conjugates, and protein expression systems comprising these vectors such as infectious viral particles and host cells comprising such a nucleic acids.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of treating cancer comprising administering autologous blood cells activated with a conjugate comprising a GM-CSF polypeptide and an IL-7 polypeptide, and having amino acid SEQ ID NO: 1 to a subject in need thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the blood cells are peripheral blood mononuclear cells. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the blood cells are T cells. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the autologous blood cells are further activated by mixing the T cells with αCD3/CD28 antibodies and the conjugate under conditions such that CD8+ T cells expand. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is a hematological malignancy. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein hematological malignancy is selected from leukemia or lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.