Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating an autoimmune disease, such ulcerative coliteis or crohns disease characterized by lymphocyte accumulation at epithelial sites. The method involves administering to a subject an effective amount of an antibody that selectively binds to an &agr;E&bgr;7 integrin or an &agr;E subunit thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of bacterial or fungal infectious disease, and to methods and compositions for screening assays to select agents that are useful for this purpose. In particular the invention relates to alpha-glycosylceramide molecules and their use in treating such infectious disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating the heterotypic adhesion between E-cadherin expressing cells and T lymphocytes. Monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to E-cadherin and isolated peptides which mimic the binding function of E-cadherin also are provided. The antibodies and peptides are useful in screening assays to identify pharmaceutical lead compounds which are capable of modulating adhesion between T lymphocytes and E-cadherin expressing cells. Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for modifying the mucosal immune response of a subject also are provided.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for identifying CD1 antigens and CD1-restricted T cells, and diagnostic and therapeutic uses of same are provided. The compositions include CD1 fusion proteins, preferably multivalent fusion proteins that are present in multimeric form (e.g., by Protein A binding multiple CD1 fusion proteins).

Abstract: Provided are CD-1 presented antigens, compositions, cells, inhibitors and methods relating to the use of hydrophobic antigen presentation by CD1 molecules, including:

Abstract: The present invention provides purified polypeptides which comprise at least a portion of a &dgr; T cell receptor polypeptide, a &ggr; T cell receptor polypeptide, a &ggr;, &dgr; T cell receptor complex or a &ggr;, &ggr; T cell receptor complex. Substances capable of forming complexes with these polypeptides are also provided. Additionally, methods for detecting T cells which have within them or on their surfaces a polypeptide of the present invention are provided. Moreover, methods for diagnosing immune system abnormalities are provided which comprise measuring in a sample from a subject the number of T cells which have within them or on their surfaces a polypeptide of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating the heterotypic adhesion between E-cadherin expressing cells and T lymphocytes. Monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to E-cadherin and isolated peptides which mimic the binding function of E-cadherin also are provided. The antibodies and peptides are useful in screening assays to identify pharmaceutical lead compounds which are capable of modulating adhesion between T lymphocytes and E-cadherin expressing cells. Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for modifying the mucosal immune response of a subject also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating the heterotypic adhesion between E-cadherin expressing cells and T lymphocytes. Monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to E-cadherin and isolated peptides which mimic the binding function of E-cadherin also are provided. The antibodies and peptides are useful in screening assays to identify pharmaceutical lead compounds which are capable of modulating adhesion between T lymphocytes and E-cadherin expressing cells. Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for modifying the mucosal immune response of a subject also are provided.

Abstract: Provided are CD-1 presented antigens, compositions, cells, inhibitors and methods relating to the use of hydrophobic antigen presentation by CD1 molecules, including: methods for detecting the presence of a CD1-presented hydrophobic antigen in a sample; methods for isolating such CD1-presented antigens and the isolated antigens; vaccines containing CD1-presented antigens and vaccination methods; methods of blocking CD1 antigen presentation; methods of identifying and/or isolating CD1 blocking agents and the isolated CD1 blocking agents; methods of inducing CD1 expression; and T-cells for use in the methods disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies that bind to a highly charged region of the integrin .alpha..sup.E subunit and its functional equivalents. The antibodies are useful in screening assays to identify agents which mimic the ligand-binding site on the integrin .alpha..sup.E.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel integrin .alpha..sup.E subunit and its functional equivalents. The method for screening a molecular library to identify lead compounds which mimick the in vivo activity of an integrin .alpha..sup.E chain is disclosed. The invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions containing the isolated peptides, oligonucleotides encoding the peptides, vectors containing the oligonucleotides, and cell lines transfected with the vectors.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the observation that CD1 functions to present foreign and autoimmune antigens to a select subpopulation of T-cells. Based on this observation, the present invention provides methods for detecting the presence of a CD1-presented antigen in a sample, methods for purifying CD1-presented antigens, vaccines containing CD1-presented antigens, methods of blocking CD1 antigen presentation, methods of identifying and/or isolating CD1 blocking agents, methods of inducing CD1 expression, and T-cell lines for use in the methods disclosed herein. The CD1-presented antigens of the invention, unlike MHC-presented antigens, are non-polypeptide hydrophobic antigens. In particular, a CD1-presented antigen isolated from several mycobacterial species is a lipoarabinomannan (LAM).

Abstract: The present invention is based on the observation that CD1 functions to present foreign and autoimmune antigens to a select subpopulation of T-cells. Based on this observation, the present invention provides methods for detecting the presence of a CD1-presented antigen in a sample, methods for purifying CD1-presented antigens, vaccines containing CD1-presented antigens, methods of blocking CD1 antigen presentation, methods of identifying and/or isolating CD1 blocking agents, methods of inducing CD1 expression, and T-cell lines for use in the methods disclosed herein. The CD1-presented antigens of the invention, unlike MHC-presented antigens, are non-polypeptide hydrophobic antigens. In particular, a CD1-presented antigen isolated from several mycobacterial species is a mycolic acid (MA).

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating the heterotypic adhesion between E-cadherin expressing cells and T lymphocytes. Monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to E-cadherin and isolated peptides which mimic the binding function of E-cadherin also are provided. The antibodies and peptides are useful in screening assays to identify pharmaceutical lead compounds which are capable of modulating adhesion between T lymphocytes and E-cadherin expressing cells. Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for modifying the mucosal immune response of a subject also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides purified polypeptides which comprise at least a portion of a .delta. T cell receptor polypeptide, a .gamma. T cell receptor polypeptide, a .gamma., .delta. T cell receptor complex or a .gamma., .gamma. T cell receptor complex. Substances capable of forming complexes with these polypeptides are also provided.Additionally, methods for detecting T cells which have within them or on their surfaces a polypeptide of the present invention are provided. Moreover, methods for diagnosing immune system abnormalities are provided which comprise measuring in a sample from a subject the number of T cells which have within them or on their surfaces a polypeptide of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel integrin .alpha..sup.E subunit and its functional equivalents. The invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions containing the isolated peptides, oligonucleotides encoding the peptides, vectors containing the oligonucleotides, and cell lines transfected with the vectors.

Abstract: Provided are monoclonal antibodies, fragments, and derivatives thereof reactive with an epitope of the T cell receptor alpha chain variable region, V.alpha.12.1, on human T lymphocytes. The monoclonal antibodies are reactive with approximately 2% of CD4.sup.+ T lymphocytes and with approximately 5% of CD8.sup.+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood cells in normal individuals and define a subset of individuals afflicted with an autoimmune disease, especially rheumatoid arthritis, that exhibit increased expression of the V.alpha.12.1 gene on CD8.sup.+ peripheral blood T lymphocytes when compared to normal individuals. Also provided are methods for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring the progression of rheumatoid arthritis in a subject using V.alpha.12.1-specific reagents, including antibodies and nucleic acid probes. Higher levels of assurance in the diagnosis of RA can be made by establishing that the expansion of V.alpha.12.1 gene usage is clonal or oligoclonal and that the V.alpha.12.

Abstract: The present invention provides purified polypeptides which comprise at least a portion of a .delta.T cell receptor polypeptide, a .gamma.T cell receptor polypeptide, a .gamma., .delta.T cell receptor complex or a .gamma., .gamma.T cell receptor complex. Substances capable of forming complexes with these polypeptides are also provided.Additionally, methods for detecting T cells which have within them or on their surfaces a polypeptide of the present invention are provided. Moreover, methods for diagnosing immune system abnormalities are provided which comprise measuring in a sample from a subject the number of T cells which have within them or on their surfaces a polypeptide of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides purified polypeptides which comprise at least a portion of a .delta.T cell receptor polypeptide, a .gamma.T cell receptor polypeptide or a .gamma.,.delta. T cell receptor complex. Substances capable of forming complexes with these polypeptides are also provided. Additionally, methods for detecting T cells which have within them or on their surfaces a polypeptide of the present invention are provided. Moreover, methods for diagnosing immune system abnormalities are provided which comprise measuring in a sample from a subject the number of T cells which have within them or on their surfaces a polypeptide of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides purified polypeptides which comprise at least a portion of a .delta. T cell receptor polypeptide, a .gamma. T cell receptor polypeptide, a .gamma., .gamma. T cell receptor complex or a .gamma., .delta. T cell receptor complex. Substances capable of forming complexes with these polypeptides are also provided.Additionally, methods for detecting T cells which have within them or on tThis invention was supported by several NIH grants, and the Government has certain rights to the invention.