Abstract:
The present invention is based on the key roles played by Hedgehog proteins in the regulation of homeostasis of the adult intestinal epithelium. Ihh is expressed in the adult mammalian colon and provides a lineage-instructive signal and regulates colonic epithelial morphogenesis in a compartmental fashion. Loss of Ihh expression precedes morphological change in colon tumorigenesis, i.e. carcinogenesis, and Ihh was absent in HT-29 colon carcinoma cells. Treatment of cancerous HT-29 cells with exogenous Hedgehog protein restored their differentiation. Ihh thus plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of colonic epithelial homeostasis in the differentiation of the GI tract cells and is essential for the enrolment of these GI tract cells on the Death program thus maintaining homeostasis to avoid or treat carcinogenesis. In addition, in gastric cancer expression of Shh is lost and loss of Shh expression precedes morphological changes in the parietal cells of the stomach. Shh is specifically expressed in fundic glands as well as in gastric heterotopia in the esophagus in Meckel's diverticulum. Shh thus has a unique role as a morphogen in fundic gland homeostasis. The present invention relates to methods in which a source of Hedgehog proteins is used prophylactically or therapeutically to maintain homeostasis of the adult intestinal epithelium. In particular the invention relates methods whereby sources of Hedgehog protein are used to prevent or treat carcinogenesis in adult gastric and colonic tissues. The invention also relates to Hedgehog-based method of diagnosing susceptibility for or the presence of carcinogenesis in the adult GI tract, particularly in gastric and colonic tissues. The invention further provide for compositions to be used in the Hedgehog-based methods of diagnosing, preventing and treating epithelial tumorigenesis in the adult GI tract.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a solid support for use in cell cultivation in vitro, comprising a 3D-matrix material and hollow fibres being permeable to at least gaseous oxygen and/or gaseous carbon dioxide, a biological reactor for the cultivation and/or maintenance of living cells comprising said solid support, as well as a method for culturing and/or maintaining living cells, using said solid support and/or said biological reactor. The solid support, biological reactor and method are especially suited for culturing human or animal derived liver cells, for use in or as a bio-artificial liver. The invention further relates to such a bio-artificial liver, as well as a method for treating liver disorders using said bio-artificial liver.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an assay for testing the genetic predisposition to respond to lipid-lowering therapy in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), comprising identifying the presence or absence of a TaqIB restriction site in intron 1 in both alleles of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene by suitable molecular biological techniques; and correlating the presence of the restriction site on one or both alleles with a high or intermediate, susceptibility for lipid-lowering therapy. The invention further relates to a testkit for performing the assay and to a cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) gene marker for identifying individuals that may or may not be susceptible for lipid-lowering therapies.
Abstract:
The invention pertains to a diphosphine-transition metal complex comprising a diphosphine-transition metal ligand that is covalently bonded to an insoluble mesoporous support having an average pore diameter of from 4.5 nm to 50 nm, characterized in that the ligand as attached to the support has the formula: wherein R is aryl, C1-C4 alkyl, aralkyl, alkylaryl; C1-C4 alkoxy, aralkoxy, or alkylaryloxy; P is a phosphorous atom; M is a transition metal; X is a bond, CH2, 0, S or NH2; Y is C or N; A is a linking moiety which is bonded to the mesoporous support; the ring formed by X, Y and the two aromatic rings is a 5- or 6-membered ring; and wherein the aromatic rings may be unsubstituted or substituted. The invention further relates to the use of the diphosphine- transition metal complex as a catalyst in a reaction selected from hydroformylation, hydrogenation, carbonylation or carbon-carbon coupling.
Abstract:
Disclosed are antagonists designed to inhibit or block expression of a mammalian complement such as complement component 6 (C6). The invention has a wide range of uses including use in the preparation of a medicament for the enhancement of nerve regeneration following acute or chronic nerve damage in a mammal.Additional applications include use in the treatment of multiple sclerosis either alone or in combination with another drug.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to isolated and recombinant antimicrobial peptides thrombocidin-1 (TC-1) and thrombocidin-2 (TC-2), or variants thereof, which comprise at least in part the sequence as shown in figure 1 indicated by the label TC-1 and TC-2, and have antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, for example Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermis, and Staphylococcus aureus, and/or against fungi, for example Candida albicans, C. glabarata, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, and Pseudoallescheria spec.. The invention further relates to the use of said peptides, or variants thereof, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of bacterial or fungal infections, such as endocarditis, in human and animals and the use of said peptides, or variants thereof, in release systems for prevention of bacterial or fungal infections in human and animals.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to isolated and recombinant antimicrobial peptides thrombocidin-1 (TC-1) and thrombocidin-2 (TC-2), or variants thereof, which comprise at least in part the sequence as shown in figure 1 indicated by the label TC-1 and TC-2, and have antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, for example Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermis, and Staphylococcus aureus, and/or against fungi, for example Candida albicans, C. glabarata, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, and Pseudoallescheria spec.. The invention further relates to the use of said peptides, or variants thereof, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of bacterial or fungal infections, such as endocarditis, in human and animals and the use of said peptides, or variants thereof, in release systems for prevention of bacterial or fungal infections in human and animals.
Abstract:
Disclosed are antagonists designed to inhibit or block expression of a mammalian complement component 8-beta (C8-beta). The invention has a wide range of uses including use in the preparation of a medicament for the enhancement of nerve regeneration following acute or chronic nerve damage in a mammal.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an apparatus for mechanical organ perfusion during the transport phase of a donor organ, which apparatus comprises an organ receptacle for acommodating the organ, propulsion means for moving the perfusate contained in a liquid compartment of the apparatus to and through the organ receptacle, and oxygenation means for the aeration of the organ receptacle. The propulsion means are embodied as a pump driven by compressed air, while the compressed air serves at the same time for the aeration of the organ receptacle.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method for determining whether a subject is at risk of undergoing an infarction related to atherosclerosis comprising measuring an inflammation parameter in a sample obtained from said subject and determining whether the value of said inflammation parameter is indicative for said risk. Said sample preferably comprises a whole blood sample. More preferably, said inflammation parameter comprises an inflammation parameter of a cell and/or derivative thereof present in said sample, such as the amount of protein and/or RNA present upon and/or within such cells/derivatives. Additionally, an excreted product produced by said cell/derivative may be measured. The invention furthermore provides a method for quantifying at least one target nucleic acid in a sample, comprising incubating said sample with at least one probe capable of annealing to said target nucleic acid, amplifying annealed probes and quantifying said probes, characterized in that said sample comprises a whole blood sample.