Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating or preventing an intestinal disease or disorder comprising administering to a subject a modulator of leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) in an amount effective to treat or prevent an intestinal disease or disorder and methods of determining the susceptibility or risk of a subject to develop an intestinal disease.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating or preventing an intestinal disease or disorder comprising administering to a subject a modulator of leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) in an amount effective to treat or prevent an intestinal disease or disorder and methods of determining the susceptibility or risk of a subject to develop an intestinal disease.

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: 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 treating or preventing inflammation in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a muramyl dipeptide (MDP).

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: 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: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating or preventing cancer involving the use of a TNF-alpha antagonist, an IL-13R?2 antagonist, and/or a AP-I antagonist.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: The present invention provides a method for enhancing oral tolerance to an antigen associated with an autoimmune disease in a subject having the autoimmune disease comprising orally administering to the subject an antigen associated with the autoimmune disease and administering an inhibitor of interleukin-12 in amounts sufficient to enhance oral tolerance. Also provided in the present invention is a method for treating or preventing an autoimmune disease in a subject comprising orally administering to the subject an antigen associated with the autoimmune disease and administering an inhibitor of interleukin-12 in amounts sufficient to treat or prevent the autoimmune disease, thereby treating or preventing the autoimmune disease.

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 invention provides methods for induction of an antigen-specific, mucosal cytotoxic T lymphocyte response useful in preventing and treating infections with pathogens that gain entry via a mucosal surface.

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.