Abstract:
The invention is generally directed to treatment of neuronal injury. In particular, the invention is directed to reducing axonal retraction ("dieback") that occurs as a result of the interaction of activated macrophages with dystrophic axons that are produced during nervous system acute or chronic injury. The invention is also directed to promoting axonal growth/regeneration. The invention is specifically directed to using stem cells or their secreted cellular factors, such as would be produced in conditioned cell culture medium, to ameliorate or prevent axonal dieback and/or promote growth/regeneration of axons.
Abstract:
A method of enhancing oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) migration, differentiation, proliferation and/or maturation in a subject in need thereof includes administering to the subject a therapeutic agent that inhibits one or more of catalytic activity, signaling, and function of PTPσ.
Abstract:
A method inhibiting and/or reducing β-amyloid accumulation and/or Tau aggregation in a subject in need thereof includesadministering to the subject a therapeutic agent that inhibits one or more of catalytic activity, signaling, and function of the LAR family phosphatases.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting glial scar formation, methods and compositions for decreasing GAG content, methods and composition for decreasing proteoglycan gene expression, and methods and compositions for promoting neuronal regeneration. The present invention further provides methods of identifying additional agents that inhibit glial scar formation and/or promote neuronal regeneration.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to methods of using keratan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, heparin, and hyaluronic acid, and molecules and compositions comprising keratan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, heparin, and hyaluronic acid, to inhibit or prevent neurite outgrowth, i.e., axonal growth, or nerve regeneration (colectively termed herein ''nerve growth''), or glial cell migration or invasion, or regeneration, and therapeutically, where the foregoing is desired. In another embodiment of the invention, inhibitors and antagonists of keratan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, heparin, and hyaluronic acid, and molecules and compositions containing the same, may be used to promote nerve growth or glial cell migration or invasion, and can be administered therapeutically. Such inhibitors and antagonists include but are not limited to antibodies, degradative enzymes, lectins; and disaccharide antagonists of the receptors for keratan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, heparin or hyaluronate.
Abstract:
A method of treating heart disease and/or injury in a subject includes administering to the subject a therapeutic agent that inhibits one or more of catalytic activity, signaling, and function of PTPσ.
Abstract:
A method of inhibiting and/or reducing the activity, signaling, and/or function of leukocyte-common antigen related (LAR) family of phosphatases in a cell of a subject induced by proteoglycans includes administering to the cell a therapeutic agent that inhibits one or more of catalytic activity, signaling, and function of the LAR family phosphatases without inhibiting binding to or activation the LAR family phosphatases by the proteoglycans.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to "activated" immature astrocytes and methods of utilizing the activated immature astrocytes to reduce secondary necrosis and scar formation in central nervous system tissue as well as to promote axon and/or blood vessel growth or regeneration. In specific embodiments of the invention, activated immature astrocytes are used in injectable form or on a polymer implant. The activated immature astrocytes and pharmaceutical compositions comprising same, may be used to treat disorders of the nervous system resulting from accidents or diseases which have in some way damaged the nerve tissue.
Abstract:
A method of promoting compensatory plasticity of spared neural cells after a neural injury includes contacting the spared neural cells with an effective amount of a therapeutic agent comprising a therapeutic peptide, wherein the therapeutic peptide comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 70% identity to SEQ ID NO:32.
Abstract:
The invention provides methods for treating pathological conditions associated with an undesirable inflammatory component. The invention is generally directed to reducing inflammation by administering cells that modulate macrophage activation. The invention is also directed to drug discovery methods to screen for agents that modulate the ability of the cells to modulate macrophage activation. The invention is also directed to cell banks that can be used to provide cells for administration to a subject, the banks comprising cells having desired potency to modulate macrophage activation.