Abstract: Hydrophobically-modified proteins and methods of making them are described. A hydrophobic moiety is attached to a surface amino acid residue of the protein. The hydrophobic moiety can be a lipid or a peptide. Alternatively, the protein can be derivatized by a wide variety of chemical reactions that append a hydrophobic structure to the protein. The preferred protein is of mammalian origin and is selected from the group consisting of Sonic, Indian, and Desert hedgehog. The hydrophobic moiety is used as a convenient tether to which may be attached a vesicle such as a cell membrane, liposome, or micelle.

Abstract: Compositions and methods disclosed herein capitalize on the discovery that rejection of a tissue graft can be inhibited using a CD40:CD154 binding interrupter, either alone or in combination with another immunomodulator or immunosuppressor. An advantageous, synergistic combination includes a CD40:CD154 binding interrupter and a CD28 signaling interrupter. An exemplary CD40:CD154 binding interrupter is an anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody, such as an antibody having the antigen-specific binding characteristics of the 5c8 monoclonal antibody. An exemplary CD28 signaling interrupter is a CTLA4-Ig fusion protein. The disclosed compositions and methods unexpectedly can be used to prolong survival of grafted tissue in a recipient host, to reverse acute graft rejection, and to attenuate immunological consequences of the failure of grafted tissue.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for attenuating or mitigating; suppressing; preventing; delaying onset of; or, reversing exogenous protein inhibitor syndromes, exemplified by clotting factor (e.g., Factor VIII) inhibitor syndromes. The described methods use a CD40:CD154 binding interrupter, such as a CD154 blocking agent, to attenuate or ameliorate counter-adaptive, bioinhibitory humoral immunity directed against an exogenous protein of therapeutic value.

Abstract: An isolated BLAA polynucleotide and the membrane-associated or secreted polypeptide encoded by the BLAA polynucleotide are disclosed. Also disclosed are the antibodies that immunospecifically bind to a BLAA polypeptide or any derivative, variant, mutant or fragment of the BLAA polypeptide, polynucleotide or antibody. Also disclosed are nucleic acid vectors and host cells containing the nucleic acid sequence of the invention.

Abstract: CAIP polypeptide, nucleic acid, and uses thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods comprising “lymphotoxin-&bgr; receptor blocking agents”, which block lymphotoxin-&bgr; receptor signalling. Lymphotoxin-&bgr; receptor blocking agents are useful for treating lymphocyte-mediated immunological diseases, and more particularly, for inhibiting Th1 cell-mediated immune responses. This invention relates to soluble forms of the lymphotoxin-&bgr; receptor extracellular domain that act as lymphotoxin-&bgr; receptor blocking agents. This invention also relates to the use of antibodies directed against either the lymphotoxin-&bgr; receptor or its ligand, surface lymphotoxin, that act as lymphotoxin-&bgr; receptor blocking agents. A novel screening method for selecting soluble receptors, antibodies and other agents that block LT-&bgr; receptor signalling is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds that are useful for inhibition and prevention of cell adhesion and cell adhesion-mediated pathologies. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations comprising these compounds and methods of using them for inhibition and prevention of cell adhesion and cell adhesion-mediated pathologies. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be used as therapeutic or prophylactic agents. They are particularly well-suited for treatment of many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: Methods of using inhibitors of the CD2/LFA-3 interaction in treating skin conditions characterized by increased T cell activation and abnormal antigen presentation in the dermis and epidermis in mammals, including humans. Such conditions include psoriasis, UV damage, e.g., photoaging, atopic dermatitis, cutaneous T cell lymphoma such as mycosis fungoides, allergic and irritant contact dermatitis, lichen planus, alopecia areata, pyoderma gangrenosum, vitiligo, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, and urticaria.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, nucleic acids, and cells for expressing an exogenous gene in a mammalian cell, involving introducing into the cell a non-mammalian DNA virus (e.g., a baculovirus) having an altered coat protein, the genome of which virus carries an exogenous gene, and growing the cell under conditions such that the gene is expressed. Also disclosed are methods for treating gene deficiency disorders, neurological disorders, or cancers in a mammal by (1) providing to a cell a therapeutically effective amount of a non-mammalian DNA virus having an altered coat protein, the genome of which virus carries an exogenous, therapeutic gene and (2) growing the cell under conditions such that the exogenous gene is expressed in the mammal.

Abstract: A protocol for the ion exchange concentration of baculovirus is presented.

Abstract: The invention relates to antibodies which specifically bind to the gc chain of cytokine receptors, as well as to cell lines which produce such antibodies, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treating immunological diseases by treating patients with such antibodies.

Abstract: This invention relates to delivery of biologically active cargo molecules, such as polypeptides and nucleic acids, into the cytoplasm and nuclei of cells in vitro and in vivo. Intracellular delivery of cargo molecules according to this invention is accomplished by the use of novel transport polypeptides which include HIV tat protein or one or more portions thereof, and which are covalently attached to cargo molecules. The transport polypeptides in preferred embodiments of this invention are characterized by the presence of the tat basic region (amino acids 49-57), the absence of the tat cysteine-rich region (amino acids 22-36) and the absence of the tat exon 2-encoded carboxy-terminal domain (amino acids 73-86) of the naturally-occurring tat protein. By virtue of the absence of the cysteine-rich region, the preferred transport polypeptides of this invention solve the potential problems of spurious trans-activation and disulfide aggregation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds that are useful for inhibition and prevention of cell adhesion and cell adhesion-mediated pathologies. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations comprising these compounds and methods of using them for inhibition and prevention of cell adhesion and cell adhesion-mediated pathologies. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be used as therapeutic or prophylactic agents. They are particularly well-suited for treatment of many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: VCAM fusion proteins capable of binding to VLA4, and DNA molecules coding on these fusions.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA molecules and hosts transformed with them which produce polypeptides displaying HBV antigenicity and genes coding therefor and methods of making and using these molecules, hosts, genes and polypeptides. The recombinant DNA molecules of this invention are characterized by structural genes that code for at least one polypeptide displaying HBV antigenicity. In appropriate hosts these recombinant DNA molecules permit the production and identification of genes and polypeptides characteristic of HBV antigenicity and their use in compositions and methods for detecting HBV virus infections in humans and stimulating the production of antibodies against this infection.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA molecules and hosts transformed with them which produce polypeptides displaying HBV anti-genicity and genes coding therefor and methods of making and using these molecules, hosts, genes and polypeptides. The recombinant DNA molecules of this invention are characterized by structural genes that code for at least one polypeptide displaying HBV antigenicity. In appropriate hosts these recombinant DNA molecules permit the production and identification of genes and polypeptides characteristic of HBV antigenicity and their use in compositions and methods for detecting HBV virus infections in humans and stimulating the production of antibodies against this infection.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA molecules and hosts transformed with them which produce polypeptides displaying HBV antigenicity and genes coding therefor and methods of making and using these molecules, hosts, genes and polypeptides. The recombinant DNA molecules of this invention are characterized by structural genes that code for at least one polypeptide displaying HBV antigenicity. In appropriate hosts these recombinant DNA molecules permit the production and identification of genes and polypeptides characteristic of HBV antigenicity and their use in compositions and methods for detecting HBV virus infections in humans and stimulating the production of antibodies against this infection.

Abstract: VCAM1 polypeptides and VCAM11/ICAM fusion proteins are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds that are useful for inhibition and prevention of cell adhesion and cell adhesion-mediated pathologies. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations comprising these compounds and methods of using them for inhibition and prevention of cell adhesion and cell adhesion-mediated pathologies. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be used as therapeutic or prophylactic agents. They are particularly well-suited for treatment of many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds that are useful for inhibition and prevention of cell adhesion and cell adhesion-mediated pathologies. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations comprising these compounds and methods of using them for inhibition and prevention of cell adhesion and cell adhesion-mediated pathologies. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be used as therapeutic or prophylactic agents. They are particularly well-suited for treatment of many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.