Abstract: The invention relates to methods of targeted drug delivery of compounds, including, chemical agents, (poly)peptides and nucleic acid based drugs (like DNA vaccines, antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, catalytic DNA (DNAzymes) or RNA molecules, siRNAs or plasmids encoding thereof). Furthermore, the invention relates to targeted drug delivery of compounds to extravascular and intracellular target sites within cells, tissues and organs, in particular to target sites within the central nervous system (CNS), into and across the blood-brain barrier, by targeting to glutathione transporters present on these cells, tissues and organs. Thereto, the compounds, or the pharmaceutical acceptable carrier thereof, are conjugated to glutathione-based ligands that facilitate the specific binding to and internalization by these glutathione transporters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acids and polypeptides encoded thereby, whose expression is modulated in brain microvascular endothelial cells undergoing early dynamic inflammation-induced changes in blood-brain bather functionality. Such polypeptides are referred to as lipopolysaccharide-sensitive (LPSS) polypeptides. These nucleic acids and polypeptides may be useful in methods for controlling blood-brain bather properties in mammals in need of such biological effects. This includes the diagnosis and treatment of disturbances in the blood-brain/retina barrier, brain (including the eye) disorders, as well as peripheral vascular disorders. Additionally, the invention relates to the use of anti-LPSS polypeptide antibodies or ligands as diagnostic probes, as blood-brain barrier targeting agents or as therapeutic agents as well as the use of ligands or modulators of expression, activation or bioactivity of LPSS polypeptides as diagnostic probes, therapeutic agents or drug delivery enhancers.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of targeted drug delivery of compounds, including, chemical agents, (poly)peptides and nucleic acid based drugs (like DNA vaccines, antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, catalytic DNA (DNAzymes) or RNA molecules, siRNAs or plasmids encoding thereof). Furthermore, the invention relates to targeted drug delivery of compounds to extravascular and intracellular target sites within cells, tissues and organs, in particular to target sites within the central nervous system (CNS), into and across the blood-brain barrier, by targeting to glutathione transporters present on these cells, tissues and organs. Thereto, the compounds, or the pharmaceutical acceptable carrier thereof, are conjugated to glutathione-based ligands that facilitate the specific binding to and internalization by these glutathione transporters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acids and polypeptides encoded thereby, whose expression is modulated in brain microvascular endothelial cells undergoing early dynamic inflammation-induced changes in blood-brain bather functionality. Such polypeptides are referred to as lipopolysaccharide-sensitive (LPSS) polypeptides. These nucleic acids and polypeptides may be useful in methods for controlling blood-brain bather properties in mammals in need of such biological effects. This includes the diagnosis and treatment of disturbances in the blood-brain/retina barrier, brain (including the eye) disorders, as well as peripheral vascular disorders. Additionally, the invention relates to the use of anti-LPSS polypeptide antibodies or ligands as diagnostic probes, as blood-brain barrier targeting agents or as therapeutic agents as well as the use of ligands or modulators of expression, activation or bioactivity of LPSS polypeptides as diagnostic probes, therapeutic agents or drug delivery enhancers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acids and polypeptides encoded thereby, whose expression is modulated in brain microvascular endothelial cells undergoing early dynamic inflammation-induced changes in blood-brain barrier functionality. Such polypeptides are referred to as lipopolysaccharide-sensitive (LPSS) polypeptides herein. These nucleic acids and polypeptides may be useful in methods for controlling blood-brain barrier properties in mammals in need of such biological effects. This includes the diagnosis and treatment of disturbances in the blood-brain/retina barrier, brain (including the eye) disorders, as well as peripheral vascular disorders. Additionally, the invention relates to the use of anti-LPSS polypeptide antibodies or ligands as diagnostic probes, as blood-brain barrier targeting agents or as therapeutic agents as well as the use of ligands or modulators of expression, activation or bioactivity of LPSS polypeptides as diagnostic probes, therapeutic agents or drug delivery enhancers.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of targeted drug delivery of antiviral compounds, including, chemical agents (like nucleoside analogs or protease inhibitors) and nucleic acid based drugs (like DNA vaccines, antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, catalytic DNA (DNAzymes) or RNA molecules, siRNAs or plasmids encoding thereof). Furthermore, the invention relates to targeted drug delivery of antiviral compounds to intracellular target sites within cells, tissues and organs, in particular to target sites within the central nervous system (CNS), into and across the blood-brain barrier, by targeting to internalizing uptake receptors present on these cells, tissues and organs. Thereto, the antiviral compounds, or the pharmaceutical acceptable carrier thereof, are conjugated to ligands that facilitate the specific binding to and internalization by these receptors.