Abstract: The invention relates to the modulation of gene expression in a cell, also called gene control, in particular in relation to the treatment of a variety of diseases. The invention provides a method for modulating expression of a gene in a cell comprising providing the cell with a signalling molecule comprising a peptide or functional analogue thereof. Furthermore, the invention provides a method for identifying or obtaining a signalling molecule comprising a peptide or functional derivative or analogue thereof capable of modulating expression of a gene in a cell comprising providing the cell with a peptide or derivative or analogue thereof and determining the activity and/or nuclear translocation of a gene transcription factor.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of immunology. Specifically, the invention relates to the field of immune-mediated disorders such as allergies, auto-immune disease, transplantation-related disease or inflammatory disease. The invention provides for an immunoregulator (IR), use of an IR in preparing a pharmaceutical composition for treating an immune-mediated disorder and a method for treating an immune-mediated disorder.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of immunology, more specifically to the field of immune-mediated disorders such as allergies, auto-immune disease, transplantation-related disease or inflammatory disease. The invention provides among others an immunoregulator (NMPF), use of an NMPF in preparing a pharmaceutical composition for treating an immune-mediated disorder, a pharmaceutical composition and a method for treating an immune-mediated disorder.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds exhibiting immunoregulatory activity as determined by measuring the compound's ability to modulate production of NO by a cell. Preferred compounds include or consist of a sequence AAL AAQ AAG AAV wherein AAL is a substituted or unsubstituted non-polar amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ala and Leu; wherein AAQ is a substituted or unsubstituted amino acid selected from the group consisting of Gln, Pro, and Ala; wherein AAG is a substituted or unsubstituted amino acid Gly, and wherein AAV is a substituted or unsubstituted non-polar amino acid selected from the group consisting of Val and Ala. In one embodiment, the compound consists of a tripeptide selected from the group AQG, MTR, VVC, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention in particular relates to the systemic treatment of inflammatory disease by oral or mucosal administration of a pharmaceutical composition with a gene-regulatory peptide. Provided is a pharmaceutical composition in a form for mucosal application for the treatment of a subject suffering from disease, the pharmaceutical composition including a pharmacologically effective amount of a gene-regulatory peptide or a functional analogue thereof together with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of reducing urea concentration in a subject's serum. Such a method comprises administering to the subject (e.g., a mammal such as a human) a composition comprising an oligopeptide (or oligopeptides) having activity in reducing urea concentration in the subject's serum as determined by a mouse renal reperfusion test, wherein the oligopeptide comprises the sequence AQG or MTRV (SEQ ID NO:1), AQGV (SEQ ID NO:2) or LAGV (SEQ ID NO:4).

Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment of an ischemic event such as a stroke or myocardial infarction. The invention provides a method for modulating an ischemic event in a subject comprising providing the subject with a gene-regulatory peptide or functional analogue thereof. Furthermore, the invention provides use of an NF-?B-down-regulating peptide or functional analogue thereof for the production of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of reperfusion injury occurring after an ischemic event in a subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to the modulation of gene expression in a cell, also called gene control, in particular in relation to the treatment of anthrax. The invention provides a method for modulating expression of a gene in a cell comprising providing the cell with a signaling molecule comprising a peptide or functional analogue thereof.

Abstract: Where it was generally thought that the smallest breakdown products of proteins had no specific biological function on their own, it now emerges that the body may utilize the normal process of proteolytic breakdown to generate important compounds such as gene-regulatory or anti-tumor compounds. Such anti-tumor compounds are useful for the treatment or prevention of tumors and can be used as part of a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of immunology, more specifically to the field of immune-mediated disorders such as allergies, auto-immune disease, transplantation-related disease and other inflammatory diseases. The invention in particular relates to the systemic treatment of inflammatory disease by oral or mucosal administration of a pharmaceutical composition with a gene-regulatory peptide. The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition in a form for mucosal application for the treatment of a subject suffering from disease, the pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmacologically effective amount of a gene-regulatory peptide or a functional analogue thereof together with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent.

Abstract: Where it was generally thought that the smallest breakdown products of proteins had no specific biological function on their own, it now emerges that the body may utilize the normal process of proteolytic breakdown to generate important compounds such as gene-regulatory compounds. For instance, certain short breakdown products of hCG (i.e., short peptides which can easily be synthesized, if needed modified, and used as a pharmaceutical composition) exert a major regulatory activity on pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokine cascades that are governed by a family of crucial transcription factors, the NF-?B family, which generally regulate the expression of genes involved in the body's immune response.