Abstract: Methods for the therapeutic use of competitive inhibitors of the CCR5/CCL5 axis that express antagonist activity for RANTES (CCL5) for immunomodulatory treatment of subjects in need thereof. The competitive inhibitors may not have CCL5 agonist activity and can be used to inhibit, interrupt, block, mitigate, slow the progress of, and/or treat inflammation and/or various other CCR5/CCL5 axis signaling dependent down-stream activities associated with transplantation, including graft versus host disease, autoimmune disorders, infectious agents, chronic inflammation, and cancer, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides for inhibition or blockade of immunomodulatory cell receptors to facilitate improved or complete reconstitution of a human immune system in laboratory animals, improve animal health, and improve animal longevity. Thus, the invention relates generally to compositions and methods of generating and using transgenic non-human animals that are engrafted with a human hematopoietic system involving anti-CCR5 agents. In various embodiments, the human hematopoietic system engrafted transgenic non-human animals of the invention are useful as systems for the in vivo evaluation of the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic and immune cells, immune responses, vaccines and vaccination regimens, and human pathogens and production and collection of immune mediators, including human antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention provides for inhibition or blockade of immunomodulatory cell receptors to treat or prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Thus, the invention relates generally to compositions and methods of using anti-CCR5 cell receptor binding agents, such as PRO 140, to treat or prevent GVHD.

Abstract: Methods for the therapeutic use of competitive inhibitors of the CCR5/CCL5 axis that express antagonist activity for RANTES (CCL5) for immunomodulatory treatment of subjects in need thereof. The competitive inhibitors may not have CCL5 agonist activity and can be used to inhibit, interrupt, block, mitigate, slow the progress of, and/or treat inflammation and/or various other CCR5/CCL5 axis signaling dependent down-stream activities associated with transplantation, including graft versus host disease, autoimmune disorders, infectious agents, chronic inflammation, and cancer, etc.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting the presence of HTLV III infected cells in a medium. The method comprises contacting the medium with monoclonal antibodies against an antigen produced as a result of the infection and detecting the binding of the antibodies to the antigen. The antigen may be a gene product of the HTLV III virus or may be bound to such gene product. On the other hand the antigen may not be a viral gene product by may be produced as a result of the infection and may further be bound to a lymphocyte. The medium may be a human body fluid or a culture medium. A particular embodiment of the present method involves a method for determining the presence of an AIDS virus in a person. The method comprises combining a sample of a body fluid from the person with a monoclonal antibody that binds to an antigen produced as a result of the infection and detecting the binding of the monoclonal antibody to the antigen. The presence of the binding indicates the presence of an AIDS virus infection.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting the presence of HTLV III infected cells in a medium. The method comprises contacting the medium with monoclonal antibodies against an antigen produced as a result of the infection and detecting the binding of the antibodies to the antigen. The antigen may be a gene product of the HTLV III virus or may be bound to such gene product. On the other hand the antigen may not be a viral gene product but may be produced as a result of the infection and may further be bound to a lymphocyte. The medium may be a human body fluid or a culture medium. A particular embodiment of the present method involves a method for determining the presence of a AIDS virus in a person. The method comprises combining a sample of a body fluid from the person with a monoclonal antibody that binds to an antigen produced as a result of the infection and detecting the binding of the monoclonal antibody to the antigen. The presence of the binding indicates the presence of a AIDS virus infection.