Abstract: The present invention provides the identification and characterization of two components of a recombinant preparation of DNase. These components are the purified deamidated and non-deamidated human DNases. Taught herein are the separation of these components and the use of the non-deamidated species as a pharmaceutical per se, and in particular in compositions wherein the species is disclosed within a plastic vial, for use in administering to patients suffering from pulmonary distress.

Abstract: The present invention relates to amino acid sequence variants of human DNase I that have increased DNA-hydrolytic activity. The invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding such hyperactive variants, thereby enabling the production of these variants in quantities sufficient for clinical use. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic uses of hyperactive variants of human DNase I.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel human deoxyribonuclease, referred to as human DNase II. The invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding human DNase II, thereby enabling the production of human DNase II by recombinant DNA methods in quantities sufficient for clinical use. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and diagnostic and therapeutic uses of human DNase II.

Abstract: A method for culturing a recombinant host cell comprising: determining a polypeptide factor for a polypeptide factor-dependent host cell; transforming said host cell with nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide factor; transforming the host cell with nucleic acid encoding a desired protein; and, culturing the transformed host cells in a medium lacking the polypeptide factor.

Abstract: A method for culturing a recombinant host cell comprising: determining a polypeptide factor for a polypeptide factor-dependent host cell; transforming said host cell with nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide factor; transforming the host cell with nucleic acid encoding a desired protein; and, culturing the transformed host cells in a medium lacking the polypeptide factor.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of treating injuries to or diseases of the central nervous system which methods involve increasing the active concentration(s) of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-&bgr;1) and/or analogues thereof in the central nervous system of the patient. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising TGF-&bgr;1 and/or analogues thereof for administration to a patient prior to, simultaneous with, or following a neural insult, which compositions are useful in minimizing damage to the central nervous system that would otherwise occur following the insult.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of ocular gene therapy.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel chimeric VEGF receptor proteins comprising amino acid sequences derived from the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors flt-1 and KDR, including the murine homologue to the human KDR receptor FLK-1, wherein said chimeric VEGF receptor proteins bind to VEGF and antagonize the endothelial cell proliferative and angiogenic activity thereof. The present invention is also directed to nucleic acids and expression vectors encoding these chimeric VEGF receptor proteins, host cells harboring such expression vectors, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such proteins, methods of preparing such proteins and to methods utilizing such proteins for the treatment of conditions associated with undesired vascularization.

Abstract: The invention concerns human trkB and trkC receptors and their functional derivatives. The invention further concerns immunoadhesins comprising trk receptor sequences fused to immunoglobin sequences.

Abstract: The present invention involves the preparation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) variants which provide materials that are selective in respect to binding characteristics to the kinase domain region and the FMS-like tyrosine-kinase region, respectively KDR and FLT-1. The respective KDR and FLT-1 receptors are bound by corresponding domains within the VEGF compound domains. The variants hereof define those two binding regions and modify them so as to introduce changes that interrupt the binding to the respective domain. In this fashion the final biological characteristics of the VEGF molecule are selectively modified.

Abstract: The invention relates to monoclonal antibodies to human leukemia inhibitory factor. The disclosed monoclonal antibodies are believed to recognize unique epitopes on hLIF and are useful in the treatment of conditions wherein the presence of hLIF causes or contributes to undesirable pathological effects, such as cachexia, dysregulated calcium metabolism, or excessive bone cell proliferation, and in the detection of hLIF, for example, in clinical samples or specimens.

Abstract: Pantropic neurotrophic factors which have multiple neurotrophic specificities are provided. The pantropic neurotrophic factors of the present invention are useful in the treatment of neuronal disorders. Nucleic acids and expression vectors encoding the pantropic neurotrophins are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel VEGF receptor proteins comprising amino acid sequences derived from the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors flt-1, FLT4, and KDR, including the murine homologue to the human KDR receptor FLK-1, wherein said chimeric VEGF receptor proteins bind to VEGF and antagonize the endothelial cell proliferative and angiogenic activity thereof. The present invention is also directed to nucleic acids and expression vectors encoding these chimeric VEGF receptor proteins, host cells harboring such expression vectors, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such proteins, methods of preparing such proteins and to methods utilizing such proteins for the treatment of conditions associated with undesired vascularization.

Abstract: A recombinant cell line has a constitutive sialidase whose functional expression is disrupted, for example by homologous recombination or using antisense RNA. Sialidase is purified from cell culture fluid of Chinese hamster ovary cells. DNA encoding sialidase is obtained using an oligonucleotide probe designed using amino acid sequence data on the sialidase, and the DNA is expressed in host cells transformed with the DNA.

Abstract: The invention concerns human trkB and trkC receptors and their functional derivatives. The invention further concerns immunoadhesins comprising trk receptor sequences fused to immunoglobulin sequences.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide, designated neurotrophic factor-4 (NT-4), has been identified by PCR amplification of human genomic DNA. Provided herein is nucleic acid encoding NT-4 useful in diagnostics and in the recombinant preparation of NT-4. Also provided herein are nucleic acids encoding naturally occurring amino acid sequence variants of NT-4, designated NT-4.beta. and NT-4.gamma.. The neurotrophic factors of the invention are useful in the treatment of nerve cells and in diagnostic assays.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acids encoding AL-1 protein, as well as AL-1 protein produced by recombinant DNA methods. Such AL-1 protein is useful in preparing antibodies and in diagnosing and treating various neuronal disorders.

Abstract: The present invention provides the identification and characterization of two components of a recombinant preparation of DNase. These components are the purified deamidated and non-deamidated human DNases. Taught herein are the separation of these components and the use of the non-deamidated species as a pharmaceutical per se, and in particular in compositions wherein the species is disclosed within a plastic vial, for use in administering to patients suffering from pulmonary distress.

Abstract: The invention relates to monoclonal antibodies to human leukemia inhibitory factor. The disclosed monoclonal antibodies are believed to recognize unique epitopes on hLIF and are useful in the treatment of conditions wherein the presence of hLIF causes or contributes to undesirable pathological effects, such as cachexia, dysregulated calcium metabolism, or excessive bone cell proliferation, and in the detection of hLIF, for example, in clinical samples or specimens.

Abstract: High-level expression of bovine growth hormone is achieved using DNA encoding bovine growth hormone which, when transcribed, produces messenger RNA (mRNA) that at its 5' end is substantially free of secondary structure that is capable of interfering with translation of the mRNA.