Methods and compositions for modulating peripheral immune function

A method for modulating production of one or more cytokines by a T-lymphocyte (T-cell) or a monocyte;

• the method comprising:
• contacting the T-cell or monocyte with an effective amount of SB623 cells;
• wherein said contacting results in stimulation of the production of one or more anti-inflammatory cytokines and/or inhibition of production of one or more pro-inflammatory cytokines by the T-cell or the monocyte;
• further wherein said SB623 cells are obtained by
• (a) providing a culture of marrow adherent stromal cells;
• (b) contacting the cell culture of step (a) with a polynucleotide comprising sequences encoding the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) wherein said polynucleotide does not encode a full-length Notch protein;
• (c) selecting cells that comprise the polynucleotide of step (b);
• and
• (d) further culturing the selected cells of step (c) in the absence of selection for the polynucleotide, such that said marrow adherent stromal cells are induced to form SB623 cells by expression of the NICD.