Patent attributes
The invention provides for compositions, e.g., pharmaceutical compositions, comprising a T lymphocyte, or a population thereof, expressing at least one recombinant polynucleotide encoding a cytokine that enhances T lymphocyte survival during the contraction phase of an immune response. The invention further provides an isolated T lymphocyte, or population thereof, expressing at least one recombinant polynucleotide encoding the cytokine, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a non-native coding sequence encoding the cytokine. Also provided is the use of such compositions and T lymphocytes, or populations thereof, for the treatment or prevention of a medical condition e.g., cancer. A method of preparing the a T lymphocyte with enhanced T cell survival is further provided herein.