Abstract: This invention relates to cell lines, particularly mammalian cell lines, established by transforming the cells with vectors, preferably retroviral vectors, containing two or more oncogenes under the control of one or more inducible promoters and/or genetic elements. Also within the scope of the invention are human cell lines with extended in vitro lifespan, transformed by vectors containing one or more oncogenes under the control of one or more, preferably exogenous, inducible promoters and/or genetic elements. The vectors may additionally contain gene(s) encoding for desired gene product(s). Also disclosed are insulin producing human pancreatic cell lines useful for transplantation into human diabetic patients.

Abstract: This invention relates to cell lines, particularly mammalian cell lines, established by transforming the cells with vectors, preferably retroviral vectors, containing two or more oncogenes under the control of one or more inducible promoters and/or genetic elements. Also within the scope of the invention are human cell lines with extended in vitro lifespan, transformed by vectors containing one or more oncogenes under the control of one or more, preferably exogenous, inducible promoters and/or genetic elements. The vectors may additionally contain gene(s) encoding for desired gene product(s). Also disclosed are insulin producing human pancreatic cell lines useful for transplantation into human diabetic patients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preventing, suppressing or treating a CNS pathology characterized by a deleterious accumulation of extracellular matrix in a tissue by contacting the tissue with an agent that inhibits the extracellular matrix producing activity of TGF-.beta.. The methods can be used to prevent, suppress or treat scar formation in the CNS. Agents that are useful in the present methods include neutralizing anti-TGF-.beta. antibodies, Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides, decorin and its functional equivalents such as biglycan, and TGF-.beta. antagonists. The present invention further provides methods for preventing, suppressing or treating a CNS pathology characterized by the insufficient accumulation of extracellular matrix. Agents that enhance the production of extracellular matrix, such as TGF-.beta., can be used in such methods.

Abstract: Methods for the recombinant production of saporin-containing proteins, including cell surface binding protein-saporin fusion proteins, are provided. The resulting fusion proteins are cytotoxic to targeted cells. In preferred embodiments, methods are provided for the production of basic fibroblast factor (bFGF)-saporin fusion proteins by culturing Escherichia coli that has been transformed with a vector containing DNA encoding bFGF linked via a spacer peptide to the amino terminus of a cytotoxic portion of a saporin polypeptide to obtain expression of the DNA, and isolating the resulting FGF-saporin fusion protein. FGF-saporin fusion proteins and saporin proteins containing from about 5 to 12 amino acid N-terminal extensions are also provided.

Abstract: A method of inducing the proliferation and/or differentiation of human adult pancreatic cells entails contacting primary cultures of such cells with Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor (HGF/SF), thereby inducing a proliferation of .beta.-epithelial cells, an increase in the number of .beta.-epithelial cells which form islet-like cell clusters, and an increase in insulin production per cell. The method is improved by culturing the cells on an extracellular matrix such as 804G in the presence of HGF/SF, and is further improved by reaggregating thus-treated cells and contacting said cells with an insulin gene upregulating agent such as a poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase inhibitor such as a nicotinamide or benzamide. The method provides increased numbers of functional islet-like cell clusters for transplantation.

Abstract: According to the present invention, processes for detecting the presence of neoplastic disease are provided. The processes involve the detection of a product associated with expression of genes that encode protein receptors for fibroblast growth factor in cells or a product present in a body fluid. Detection can be carried out in a variety of ways, such as by hybridization to detect the presence of mRNA or immunological assays to detect the presence of receptor protein.

Abstract: The addition of basic FGF-saporin mitotoxins selectively elminates fibroblastoids from human islets in culture and increases the ability of such islets to release insulin under basal and stimulated conditions. When such islets are attached to an extracellular matrix, in particular BCEM, the proliferation of islet cells is favored, and the ability of islets cultured in such manner to release insulin is further increased. Moreover, supplementation of the culture media with high glucose or insulin further improves the functioning of the human islets, resulting in augmented insulin release. Combinations of such procedures offer a novel approach towards the establishment of viable human islet cell monolayers for clinical and laboratory research.

Abstract: A peptide having the formula ##STR1## is synthesized. The peptide is conjugated, e.g., with bis-diazotized benzidine, at its C-terminus to a carrier, such as bovine serum albumin, to form a synthetic antigen useful for inducing antibody production in a host animal. The antiserum obtained from the host animal is free of cross-reactivity with other pituitary substances and thus particularly advantageous for assay purposes. The peptide, whether unlabeled or labeled with radioactive iodine on the tyrosine moiety, has an affinity to antiserum raised against the conjugate similar to the affinity of natural hPRL to the antiserum. The synthetic peptide is used in radioimmunoassays where the labeled peptide competes for the binding sites in the antiserum with unknown concentrations of hPRL in biological samples.

Abstract: hGH(1-43) having the formula: H--Phe--Pro--Thr--Ile--Pro--Leu--Ser--Arg--Leu--Phe--Asp--Asn--Ala--Met--L eu--Arg--Ala--His--Arg--Leu--His--Gln--Leu--Ala--Phe--Asp--Thr--Try--Gln--G lu--Phe--Glu--Glu--Ala--Try--Ile--Pro--Lys--Glu--Gln--Lys--Tyr--Ser--OH has been found to have remarkable insulin-potentiating action, as has the fragment hGH (17-43). Pharmaceutical compositions in accordance with the invention include hGH(1-43), hGH(17-43) or a biologically active intermediate fragment, or a nontoxic salt thereof, dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such peptides or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof may be administered to mammals to promote the action of insulin.Such a peptide can be synthesized by exclusively solid-phase techniques, by partial solid-phase techniques, by fragment condensation, by classical solution addition or by recently developed recombinant DNA techniques.