Abstract: Methods and materials are disclosed for the production of purified, active recombinant human neutrophil protease, PR-3, via activation of a pro-form herein referred to as proPR-3. Human PR-3 is useful for discovering inhibitors of excessive release of mature, active TNF.alpha.. Also disclosed are methods for the identification of inhibitors of the conversion of the pro-form of TNF.alpha. to its mature active form.

Abstract: Methods for the identification of inducers and inhibitors of apoptosis are described. The method exploits the finding that the exposure of cells to apoptotic stress and its concurrent shutdown of cellular protein synthesis is accompanied by phosphorylation of IF-2.alpha. and a novel protein termed p90.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting (1) leukemia, (2) cancer, (3) autoimmune disorder, (4) inflammatory disorder, (5) allergic disorder or (6) viral infection, characterized by measuring soluble, human interleukin-2 receptor .gamma.-chain molecules existing in a human body fluid by an immunochemical method using an antibody/antibodies specifically reacting with human interleukin-2 receptor .gamma.-chain molecule, and a reagent for the detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mammalian adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor. The invention is directed toward the isolation, characterization and pharmacological use of mammalian adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor, the gene corresponding to this receptor, a recombinant eukaryotic expression construct capable of expressing a mammalian adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor in cultures of transformed eukaryotic cells and such cultures of transformed eukaryotic cells that synthesize mammalian adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor. The invention also provides methods for screening ACTH.sup.R agonists and antagonists in vitro using preparations of receptor from such cultures of eukaryotic cells transformed with a recombinant eukaryotic expression construct comprising the ACTH.sup.R receptor gene. The invention specifically provides human and bovine ACTH.sup.R genes.

Abstract: The invention features a method for determining whether a candidate compound is a non-peptide agonist of a peptide hormone receptor. In this method, a candidate compound is exposed to a form of the peptide hormone receptor which has an enhanced ability to amplify the intrinsic activity of a non-peptide agonist. The second messenger signaling activity of the enhanced receptor is measured in the presence of the candidate compound, and compared to the second messenger signaling activity of the enhanced receptor measured in the absence of the candidate compound. A change in second messenger signaling activity indicates that the candidate compound is an agonist. An increase in second messenger signaling activity indicates that the compound is either a full or partial positive agonist; a decrease in second messenger signaling activity indicates that the compound is an inverse (also termed a `negative`) agonist.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel DNAs that encode proteins having electrophysiological and pharmacological properties characteristic of glutamate receptors. The glutamate receptors are exemplified by proteins encoded by representative cDNA clones GluR1, GluR2, GluR3, GluR4, GluR5, GluR6 and GluR7, fragments thereof, and functional combinations of these glutamate receptor proteins and/or fragments. DNA sequences from the cDNA clones for GluR1, GluR2, GluR3, GluR5 and GluR5 are especially useful as probes, thus enabling those skilled in the art to identify, without undue experimentation, other members of the L-glutamate receptor family.

Abstract: The circulating advanced glycosylation endproducts Hb-AGE, serum AGE-peptides and urinary AGE-peptides are disclosed as long term markers of diseases and dysfunctions having as a characteristic the presence of a measurable difference in AGE concentration. Diagnostic and therapeutic protocols taking advantage of the characteristics of these AGEs are disclosed. Antibodies which recognize and bind to in vivo-derived advanced glycosylation endproducts are also disclosed. Methods of using these antibodies as well as pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed, along with numerous diagnostic applications, including methods for the measurement of the presence and amount of advanced glycosylation endproducts in both plants and animals, including humans, as well as in cultivated and systhesized protein material for therapeutic use.

Abstract: Treatment of solid tumors, including their metastases, without radiation, surgery or standard chemotherapeutic agents is described. Ex vivo stimulation of cells, selection of specific V.beta. subsets of stimulated cells and reinfusion of the V.beta. subsets of stimulated cells is employed for cancer therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the diagnosis of male infertility which comprises the steps of a) determining the amount of P34H in a sperm sample; and b) comparing the determined amount of step (a) with a fertile control sample. The present invention also relates to a kit for the diagnosis of male infertility which comprises an anti-P34H antibody enzyme-labeled, an enzyme substrate and a fertile control sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polynucleotide which identifies and encodes a human cell death-associated protein (cdap) which was isolated from a rheumatoid synovium library. The invention provides for genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding CDAP. The invention also provides for the therapeutic use of purified CDAP, cdap or its antisense molecules, or CDAP inhibitors in pharmaceutical compositions and for treatment of conditions or diseases associated with expression of CDAP. The invention also describes diagnostic assays which utilize diagnostic compositions comprising the polynucleotide, or fragments thereof, or antibodies which specifically bind to the polypeptide.

Abstract: The circulating advanced glycosylation endproducts Hb-AGE, serum AGE-peptides and urinary AGE-peptides are disclosed as long term markers of diseases and dysfunctions having as a characteristic the presence of a measurable difference in AGE concentration. Diagnostic and therapeutic protocols taking advantage of the characteristics of these AGEs are disclosed. Antibodies which recognize and bind to in vivo-derived advanced glycosylation endproducts are also disclosed. Methods of using these antibodies as well as pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed, along with numerous diagnostic applications, including methods for the measurement of the presence and amount of advanced glycosylation endproducts in both plants and animals, including humans, as well as in cultivated and systhesized protein material for therapeutic use.

Abstract: The protein tyrosine kinase receptors, designated Rse and HPTK6, have been purified from human and/or murine cell tissues. Rse and HPTK6 have been cloned from a cDNA library of a human liver carcinoma cell line (i.e., Hep 3B) using PCR amplification. Provided herein are nucleic acid sequences encoding Rse and HPTK6 useful as diagnostics and in the recombinant preparation of Rse and HPTK6. Rse and HPTK6 are used in the preparation and purification of antibodies thereto and in diagnostic assays.

Abstract: Discoveries are disclosed that show particular aspects of recombinant DNA technology can be used successfully to produce hitherto unknown human keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) protein free of other polypeptides. These proteins can be produced in various functional forms from spontaneously secreting cells or from DNA segments introduced into cells. These forms variously enable biochemical and functional studies of this novel protein as well as production of antibodies. Means are described for determining the level of expression of genes for the KGF protein, for example, by measuring mRNA levels in cells or by measuring antigen secreted in extracellular or body fluids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recombinant DNA molecule which encodes a HT.sub.m4 protein, a transformed host cell which has been stably transfected with a DNA molecule which encodes a HT.sub.m4 protein and a recombinant HT.sub.m4 protein. The invention also relates to a method for detecting the presence of a hereditary atopy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel process for the preparation of glycoproteins by mammalian cell culture wherein the sialic acid content of the glycoprotein produced is controlled over a broad range of values by manipulating the cell culture environment. The invention provides for processes in which the sialic acid content of the glycoprotein is modified by changes in cell culture parameters which affect cell specific productivity. Preferred embodiments of the invention include cell culture processes in the osmolality of the cell culture is controlled as well as the concentration of a transcription enhancer during the production phase of the cell culture. The invention further provides for novel preparations of soluble type 1 tumor necrosis factor immunoglobulin G1 and their uses in the treatment of inflammatory or immune related disorders.

Abstract: The circulating advanced glycosylation endproducts Hb-AGE, serum AGE-peptides and urinary AGE-peptides are disclosed as long term markers of diseases and dysfunctions having as a characteristic the presence of a measurable difference in AGE concentration. Diagnostic and therapeutic protocols taking advantage of the characteristics of these AGEs are disclosed. Antibodies which recognize and bind to in vivo-derived advanced glycosylation endproducts are also disclosed. Methods of using these antibodies as well as pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed, along with numerous diagnostic applications, including methods for the measurement of the presence and amount of advanced glycosylation endproducts in both plants and animals, including humans, as well as in cultivated and systhesized protein material for therapeutic use.

Abstract: Polyspecific immunoconjugates and antibody composites that bind a multidrug transporter protein and an antigen associated with a tumor or infectious agent are used to overcome the multidrug resistant phenotype. These immunoconjugates and composites also can be used diagnostically to determine whether the failure of traditional chemotherapy is due to the presence of multidrug resistant tumor cells, multidrug resistant HIV-infected cells or multidrug resistant infectious agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated, synthetic preparation of a novel neutrophil-specific chemotactic factor (NCF), monoclonal antibodies having specific binding affinity for NCF and a clone containing the complete coding sequence for NCF.

Abstract: The present invention relates to monoclonal antibodies to advanced glycosylation endproducts formed in vivo and cross-reactive with advanced glycosylation endproducts formed in vitro, and to methods of diagnosis and therapy based thereon. More particularly, the invention is directed to a monoclonal antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, reactive with in vivo produced advanced glycosylation endproducts (AGEs), which monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof demonstrates an immunological binding characteristic of monoclonal antibody 4G9 as produced by hybridoma 4G9, deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and assigned Accession Number CRL 11626, on Apr. 27, 1994. In a specific embodiment, the 4G9 antibody is used in a sandwich ELISA to detect ApoB-AGE, IgG-AGE, collagen-AGE, serum-AGE peptides and proteins and urinary-AGE peptides and proteins.

Abstract: The circulating advanced glycosylation endproducts Hb-AGE, serum AGE-peptides and urinary AGE-peptides are disclosed as long term markers of diseases and dysfunctions having as a characteristic the presence of a measurable difference in AGE concentration. Diagnostic and therapeutic protocols taking advantage of the characteristics of these AGEs are disclosed. Antibodies which recognize and bind to in vivo-derived advanced glycosylation endproducts are also disclosed. Methods of using these antibodies as well as pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed, along with numerous diagnostic applications, including methods for the measurement of the presence and amount of advanced glycosylation endproducts in both plants and animals, including humans, as well as in cultivated and systhesized protein material for therapeutic use.