Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To determine a factor for controlling harmful accumulation of matrix components in a pathological stage such as a kidney disease, and control a factor for preventing, restricting or curing pathological conditions including unsuitable accumulation of a matrix. SOLUTION: A method for inhibiting the accumulation of extracellular matrix components in a tissue by bringing the tissue into contact with an agent to control the activity of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is offered. The agent can be, for example, an anti-TGF-β antibody, a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a peptide containing Arg-Gly-Asp, a decorin or a biglycan with the similar function. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of screening a substance for an ability to effect the formation of a retinoid X receptor homodimer comprising combining the substance and a solution containing the retinoid X receptor and determining the presence of homodimer formation. SOLUTION: The method of screening a substance for an ability to affect the formation of the retinoid X receptor homodimer, comprises processes for combining the substance and the solution containing the retinoid X receptor, determining the presence of homodimer formation and determining the presence of the homodimer by detecting activation of transcription through the retinoid X receptor homodimer. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a composition of drug which gives effects to type and/or amount of ingredients of extracellular matrix. SOLUTION: The composition for formulating the drug which gives effect to type and/or amount of ingredients of extracellular matrix, containing substantially refined recombinant Decholin, wherein Decholin is selected from the group consisting of a natural composition of Decholin and its modified product having activity for inhibiting cellular proliferation, in which said refined recombinant Decholin without substantially contain impurities relating to the refining process, and the resultant refined product having the activity for inhibiting cellular proliferation. COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO
Abstract:
The invention provides a method of treating a disease or pathological condition resulting in apoptotic cell death. The method includes increasing the activity of Bcl-2 in cells affected by the disease or pathological condition. Diseases or pathological conditions can include, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and viral infections. Also provided is a method of prolonging the in vivo survival of transplanted cells for the treatment of a disease or pathological condition. The method includes increasing the activity of Bcl-2 in a population of cells and transplanting the population of cells having increased Bcl-2 activity into a subject. Diseases or pathological conditions can include, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and viral infections. A method to enhance the sensitivity of malignant cells to therapy is provided that includes decreasing the activity of Bcl-2 in the malignant cells. Methods to identify compounds that alter apoptotic cell death and to enhance monoclonal antibody production are also provided by the invention disclosed herein.
Abstract:
Novel synthetic Arg-Gly-Asp containing peptides which have high affinity and specificity for their receptors by virtue of restrictions on their stereochemical conformation. Such restrictions can be provided by cyclization, by inclusion into a constraining conformational structure such as a helix, by providing an additional chemical structure such as an amide or an enantiomer of a naturally occurring amino acid, or by other methods. In particular, there are provided cyclic peptides having increased affinity and selectivity for the certain receptors over that of linear, Arg-Gly-Asp-containing synthetic peptides.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a mammalian CD40-associated protein (CAP), a nucleic acid molecule encoding the CAP and antibodies specific for the CAP. The invention further provides a substantially purified human CAP-1 and a nucleic acid molecule encoding human CAP-1. The invention also provides screening assays for identifying an agent that effectively alters the association of a CAP with a second molecule, which can bind to the CAP. In addition, the invention provides methods for identify a CAP agonist or CAP antagonist that can increase or decrease, respectively, the level of expression of the CAP in a cell. Such an effective agent, agonist or antagonist can modulate a function of a cell such as a humoral immune response or cell growth. The invention also provides methods of detecting a CAP in a sample by detecting the CAP or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the CAP. Such methods can be used to diagnose a pathology that is characterized by an increased or decreased level of a CAP in a cell.
Abstract:
The present invention provides antagonists to cell adhesion useful in controlling the negative effects of inflammation, and the metastasis of cancer cells. These antagonists are ligands to E-selectin containing the sialyl Lex structure, including sialyl Lex glycoproteins, sialyl Lex glycolipids, and sialyl Lex oligsaccharides, and other related sialyl Lex-containing molecules capable of inhibiting E-selectin mediated cell adhesion to endothelial cells. The present invention also provides antibodies against sialyl Lex determinants capable of interrupting E-selectin mediated cell adhesion, which are also considered antagonists according to the present invention. The present invention also provides methods of using the antagonists of the present invention to reduce inflammation, and methods to inhibit the process of metastasis by carcinogenic cells. The present invention-also provides nucleic acid molecules encoding the glycoprotein antagonists of the present invention, in particular soluble chimeric leukosialin, and vectors capable of expressing these nucleic acid molecules, as well as cells capable of producing sialyl Lex positive recombinant glycoproteins. The present invention further provides a method of determining metastatic potential by comparing the efficiency of E-selectin-mediated adhesion of cell samples. In addition the present invention provides a method of producing a preferred antagonist of the present invention, sialyl Lex positive glycoproteins, in particular, sialy Lex positive chimeric leukosialin.
Abstract:
The peptide X-Arg-Gly-Asp-R-Y wherein X is H or at least one amino acid and Y is OH or at least one amino acid, and R is an amino acid selected from Thr or Cys, or other amino acid, having the same cell-attachment activity as fibronectin and the peptide X-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Y, wherein X and Y, having said activity are disclosed.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a substantially pure integrin characterized in that it consists of an alpha v and a beta 1 subunit. The receptor binds to fibronectin and GRGDSPK but does not bind to vitronectin. The alpha v beta 1 receptor can be used to determine the presence of ligands for the receptor.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the proteoglycan Decorin (also known as PG-II or PG-40). The invention provides cells transfected with and expressing a gene coding for Decorin. Spent culture media from such transfected cell cultures can be used to suppress the proliferation of either normal or abnormal cells. Purified Decorin can be used to suppress cell proliferation.