Patent 11859208 was granted and assigned to Emory University on January, 2024 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
This disclosure relates to compositions and methods of reversing senescence in T cells by interrupting vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) signaling and/or inhibiting phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3 kinase) inhibitor signaling and uses in managing cancer and chronic viral infections. In certain embodiments, the disclosure contemplates methods of reversing T cell senescence by mixing T cell in vitro with an agent that prevents VIP from interacting with VIP receptors and/or a PI3 Kinase inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the disclosure contemplates the expansion of senescent T cells by mixing with a PI3 kinase inhibitor, an agent that block VIP and VIP receptor signaling, a VIP degrading enzyme, and combinations thereof.