Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of use thereof, for treating cerebral cavernous malformations and symptoms associated therewith. The pharmaceutical compositions include a therapeutically effective amount of a thrombospondin 1 protein agent. A thrombospondin 1 protein agent can include thrombospondin 1 protein, a functional fragment of thrombospondin 1 protein, an isomer, a homolog, or a peptidomimetic of thrombospondin 1 protein or a functional fragment thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions and methods can further comprise a Rho Kinase inhibitor.

Abstract: In a microfluidic system, a magnetic clamp for sealing a flexible microchannel chip includes a base formed from a magnetically-attractable material. The base supports a window for viewing the face of the microfluidic chip. A ring with magnets uniformly distributed around it is disposed over the base. A transparent disk attached to the top of the ring has an inlet and an outlet for introducing and removing a fluid medium into a cavity defined the disk, the window, the center opening of the ring and the base. An elastomer cushion is attached to the inner surface of the disk. The magnetic force between the base and the magnets on the ring compresses the cushion against the microfluidic chip so that the microchannels are sealed against the window with a uniform and reproducible pressure.

Abstract: In a microfluidic system, a magnetic clamp for sealing a flexible microchannel chip includes a base formed from a magnetically-attractable material. The base supports a window for viewing the face of the microfluidic chip. A ring with magnets uniformly distributed around it is disposed over the base. A transparent disk attached to the top of the ring has an inlet and an outlet for introducing and removing a fluid medium into a cavity defined the disk, the window, the center opening of the ring and the base. An elastomer cushion is attached to the inner surface of the disk. The magnetic force between the base and the magnets on the ring compresses the cushion against the microfluidic chip so that the microchannels are sealed against the window with a uniform and reproducible pressure.

Abstract: Diagnostic systems, methods, polypeptides and antibodies for detecting the presence of C-terminal hGPIIb fragment of the platelet receptor GPIIb-IIIa in a body fluid sample are disclosed.

Abstract: Diagnostic systems, methods, polypeptides and antibodies for detecting the presence of C-terminal hGPIIb fragment of the platelet receptor GPIIb-IIIa in a body fluid sample are disclosed.

Abstract: Polypeptides containing a series of heptad-repeats that mimic a transmembrane domain and a selected cytoplasmic domain attached to the series of heptad repeats are provided which can be used in construction of structural models for evaluating the structure and activity of occupied, clustered and heteromeric transmembrane proteins and identifying therapeutic compounds.

Abstract: Methods are provided for identifying agents which modulate the interaction of tyrosine kinases of the Syk family with integrins. Also provided are compositions and methods for using these agents to modulate tyrosine kinases of the Syk family and to treat disease such as thrombosis, inflammation, metastasis and tumor cell growth in a subject.

Abstract: Polypeptides containing a series of heptad-repeats that mimic a transmembrane domain and a selected cytoplasmic domain attached to the series of heptad repeats are provided which can be used in construction of structural models for evaluating the structure and activity of occupied, clustered and heteromeric transmembrane proteins and identifying therapeutic compounds.

Abstract: Diagnostic systems, methods, polypeptides and antibodies for detecting the presence of C-terminal hGPIIb fragment of the platelet receptor GPIIb-IIIa in a body fluid sample are disclosed.

Abstract: Diagnostic systems, methods, polypeptides and antibodies for detecting the presence of C-terminal hGPIIb fragment of the platelet receptor GPIIb-IIIa in a body fluid sample are disclosed.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides derived from human fibronectin are described which bind to integrin receptors expressed by cells. The receptor binding site of human fibronectin begins at amino acid residue 1394 and ends at residue 1400 of fibronectin. The polypeptides facilitate attachment of cells to substrates either alone or in conjunction with RGD-containing peptides. Vectors, fusion proteins and antibodies are also described. Methods for promoting cell attachment and for inhibiting cell adhesion are also described.

Abstract: Antibodies for detecting the presence of C-terminal hGPIIb fragment of the platelet receptor GPIIb-IIIa in a body fluid sample are disclosed.

Abstract: Polypeptides and fusion polypeptides that immunologically mimic the native Pl.sup.A1 and Pl.sup.A2 determinants of platelet protein GPIIIa are disclosed. Also disclosed are DNA segments and recombinant DNA molecules that encode those polypeptides and fusion polypeptides and methods for expressing and using those determinants. Antibodies that immunoreact with one determinant or the other, but not both are also disclosed, as are methods of preparing and using those antibodies.

Abstract: A method for identifying regulators of integrin activation by establishing a selected cell line which contains a functional integrin and a chimeric polypeptide having a cytoplasmic domain of an integrin subunit fused to a polypeptide containing extracellular and transmembrane domains that are not functional integrin domains, so that chimera can inhibit signaling activities of the functional integrin by interaction with integrin regulator molecules in the cytoplasm; transfecting the cell line with a selected cDNA expression library; expressing proteins of the cDNA expression library; and identifying proteins which when overexpressed overcome the inhibition of signaling activities by said chimeric polypeptide, said proteins being regulators of integrin. Methods of designing drugs to modify integrin function and cell lines for screening regulators of integrin activation are also provided.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides derived from human fibronectin are described which bind to integrin receptors expressed by cells. The receptor binding site of human fibronectin begins at amino acid residue 1394 and ends at residue 1400 of fibronectin. The polypeptides facilitate attachment of cells to substrates either alone or in conjunction with RGD-containing peptides. Vectors, fusion proteins and antibodies are also described. Methods for promoting cell attachment and for inhibiting cell adhesion are also described.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides derived from human fibronectin are described which bind to integrin receptors expressed by cells. The receptor binding site of human fibronectin begins at amino acid residue 1394 and ends at residue 1400 of fibronectin. The polypeptides facilitate attachment of cells to substrates either alone or in conjunction with RGD-containing peptides. Vectors, fusion proteins and antibodies are also described. Methods for promoting cell attachment and for inhibiting cell adhesion are also described.

Abstract: Diagnostic systems, methods, polypeptides and antibodies for detecting the presence of C-terminal hGPIIb fragment of the platelet receptor GPIIb-IIIa in a body fluid sample are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods are described for characterizing platelet aggregation defects. The defects are characterized as activation, ligand binding, or post-occupancy defects. In one embodiment of the invention a Cam variant of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is characterized as having a ligand binding defect. In another embodiment, a patient with myelofibrosis is identified as having an activation defect. Rapid analysis are afforded using fluorescence-activated flow cytometry. Also, diagnostic kits are described which comprise antibodies suitable for characterizing the above defects.

Abstract: The invention features a method for inhibiting the ligand binding of an integrin in a cell involving introducing into the cell a compound which inhibits integrin activation, a method for identifying compounds which inhibit integrin activation, and chimeric integrin molecules.

Abstract: A polypeptide analog capable of immunologically mimicking a linear hGPIIb antigenic determinant expressed when platelet-associated GPIIb-IIIa binds fibrinogen is disclosed. An antibody that immunoreacts with the polypeptide and hGPIIb when hGPIIb is present as a platelet-associated GPIIb-IIIa/fibrinogen complex is also disclosed. Further disclosed are diagnostic systems and methods for assaying fibrinogen-bound platelets in a vascular fluid sample using the polypeptides and/or antibodies of the invention.