Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing the inflammatory response of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a substance that inhibits the binding of IL-13 to IL-13 receptors on NKT cells or delivers an effector molecule to the NKT cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing inflammation in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a muramyl dipeptide (MDP).

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of treating or preventing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a subject comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an NF-?B decoy polynucleotide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing the inflammatory response of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a substance that inhibits the binding of IL-13 to IL-13 receptors on NKT cells or delivers an effector molecule to the NKT cells.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of treating or preventing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a subject comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an NF-?B decoy polynucleotide.

Abstract: The present invention provides alternatives to traditional drug and surgical treatments for IBD. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as IBD in humans using TGF-? therapy. The compositions of the present invention provide vectors containing TGF-? under the control of an inducible promoter. In particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention provides regulated plasmid constructs capable of inducing TGF-? production. In preferred embodiments, the methods of the present invention utilize the vectors described for assaying the expression of a gene in a cell. In some preferred embodiments, the methods of the present invention utilize the administration of TGF-? containing vectors to treat IBD. In alternative preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions for the induction of high-level interleukin (e.g., IL-10) production.

Abstract: Method of treating or preventing the inflammatory response of colitis in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a substance that modulates IL-13 activity (FIG. 3). The invention also provides a method of treating or preventing the inflammatory response of colitis in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a substance that modulates NK-T cell activity. The invention also provides for the screening of substances that treat or prevent the inflammatory response of colitis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of downregulating interleukin-12 production in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an interleukin-12 downregulating amount of a ligand of complement receptor 3 and/or complement receptor 4 effective in downregulating interleukin-12 production. Also provided is a method of reducing an interleukin-12-induced inflammatory response in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an amount of a ligand of complement receptor 3 and/or complement receptor 4 effective in reducing the interleukin-12-induced inflammatory response. In addition, the present invention provides a method of reducing the symptoms characteristic of an autoimmune disease by downregulating interleukin-12 production, comprising administering to the subject an amount of a ligand of complement receptor 3 or complement receptor 4 effective in downregulating interleukin-12 production, thereby reducing the symptoms characteristic of an autoimmune disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing the inflammatory response of an inflammatory bowel disease in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an amount of a STAT-4 antisense oligonucleotide effective in treating or preventing the inflammatory response of the inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing the inflammatory response of an inflammatory bowel disease in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an amount of a STAT-4 antisense oligonucleotide effective in treating or preventing the inflammatory response of the inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating the inflammatory response of an established colitis in a subject with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising administering to a subject diagnosed with an established colitis from an IBD an amount of an antibody to interleukin-12 effective in reducing the colitis-inducing effect of interleukin-12. Also provided is a method for screening a substance for its effectiveness in reducing the inflammatory response of an established colitis comprising obtaining an animal having an established colitis; administering the substance to an animal; and assaying the animal for an effect on interleukin-12 which results in the reduction of the inflammatory response of the colitis, an amount of reduction of the inflammatory response greater than the amount of reduction produced by the administration of antibodies against interferon-gamma or tumor necrosis factor-alpha indicating an effective substance.