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.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating or arresting the progress of pathologies characterized by an accumulation of extracellular matrix components by providing an agent to suppress the activity of transforming growth factor ? (TGF-?) a peptide growth factor which is anabolic and leads to fibrosis and angiogenesis. In one embodiment, such agent is anti-TGF-? antibody. Pathologies which can be so treated include, but are not limited to, glomerulonephritis, adult respiratory distress syndrome and cirrhosis of the liver. The invention further provides a method for the diagnosis of pathologies, or incipient pathologies, which are characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix components in tissues by determining the levels of TGF-? in the tissues, a high level being indicative of such pathologies.

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: This invention is directed to novel integrin binding peptides. These peptides bind to ?v- of ?5-containing integrins and can exhibit high binding affinity. They contain one of the following sequence motifs: RX1ETX2WX3 [SEQ ID NO:1] (especially RRETAWA [SEQ ID NO:8]); RGDGX [SEQ ID NO:2], in which X is an amino acid with a hydrophobic, aromatic side chain; the double cyclic CX1CRGDCX2C [SEQ ID NO:15]; and RLD. The peptides generally exhibit their highest binding affinity when they assume a conformationally stabilized configuration. This invention also provides methods of using these peptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides molecules that home to a selected organ. For example, the invention provides peptides that selectively home to brain or to kidney.

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.

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 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.

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.

Abstract: The invention provides cyclic peptides which inhibit platelet aggregation without causing prolonged bleeding time. The invention provides RGD or KGD containing peptides which are cyclized and contain hydrophobic amino acids adjacent to the carboxy terminus of the RGD sequence. Peptides of this nature are also provided which contain in addition to the hydrophobic amino acid an adjacent positively charged amino acid. Such peptides have a high affinity for the receptor IIb/IIIa and a low affinity for the fibronectin and vitronectin receptors. Such peptides can be administered in a suitable physiologically acceptable carrier to therapeutically treat thrombosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating pathologies using Decorin.

Abstract: The invention provides cyclic peptides which inhibit platelet aggregation without causing prolonged bleeding time. The invention provides RGD or KGD containing peptides which are cyclized and contain hydrophobic moieties adjacent to the carboxy terminus of the RGD sequence. Peptides of this nature are also provided which contain in addition to the hydrophobic. moiety an adjacent positively charged moiety. Such peptides have a high affinity for the receptor IIb/IIIa and a low affinity for the fibronectin and vitronectin receptors. Such peptides can be administered in a suitable physiologically acceptable carrier to therapeutically treat thrombosis.

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: 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: Isolated nucleic acids encoding a novel MAR-binding protein are also provided, as well as vectors containing the nucleic acids and recombinant host cells transformed with such vectors. The invention further provides methods of detecting such nucleic acids by contacting a sample with a nucleic acid probe having a nucleotide sequence capable of hybridizing with the isolated nucleic acids of the present invention. Such probes can correspond to the ATC sequences.

Abstract: Method for the isolation and characterization of a 140,000 dalton cell surface glycoprotein with the properties expected of a fibronectin receptor is described.

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 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.