Abstract: A method of determining the optimal level of product expression and cell growth of animal cell culture is described. The method generally comprises culturing cells under conditions of solute stress, that is, under conditions whereby optimal cell growth or growth rate is decreased yet levels of product expression are increased. In a preferred embodiment of the invention is described a method of increasing the yield of monoclonal antibodies comprising culturing hybridoma cells in an environment of solute stress. One approach to the creation of such an environment is the addition of inorganic salts, organic polyols, or metabolic products to the culture medium. One- to three-fold increases in antibody yield have been obtained by these methods.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are described for identifying inhibitors of mature protein hormone formation from a prohormone, and prophylactic and therapeutic uses of the inhibitors for treating diseases associated with elevated levels of the mature hormones, particulary sepsis, AIDS and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: Murine monoclonal antibodies are prepared and characterized which bind selectively to high molecular weight mucins by immunoprecipitation test and are IgGs or IgMs. Immunotoxins comprising the monoclonal antibody and cytotoxic moiety were produced.

Abstract: This invention provides a class of interleukin-6 (IL-6) muteins which act as IL-6 receptor antagonists, thereby inhibiting the normal function of naturally-occurring IL-6. These IL-6 receptor antagonists are preferably IL-6 molecules containing one or more mutations in the Site II region comprising amino acids 154-163. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising IL-6 receptor antagonists with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This invention further provides methods for treating IL-6 related diseases such as sepsis and multiple myeloma, the methods comprising administering to a patient an IL-6 receptor antagonist.

Abstract: A colony stimulating factor, CSF-1, is a lymphokine useful in regulating the immune system is a lymphokine useful in overcoming the immunosuppression induced by chemotherapy or resulting from other causes. CSF-1 is obtained in usable amounts by recombinant methods, including cloning and expression of the murine and human DNA sequences encoding this protein. Both "long" and "short" forms of this protein and muteins corresponding to the cDNA-encoded forms are disclosed.

Abstract: A colony stimulating factor, CSF-1, is a lymphokine useful in treating or preventing bacterial, viral or fungal infections, neoplasms, leukopenia, wounds, and in overcoming the immunosuppression induced by chemotherapy or resulting from other causes. CSF-1 is obtained in usable amounts by recombinant methods, including cloning and expression of the murine and human DNA sequences encoding this protein.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are described for identifying inhibitors of mature protein hormone formation from a prohormone, and prophylactic and therapeutic uses of the inhibitors for treating diseases associated with elevated levels of the mature hormones, particulary sepsis, and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: Recombinant vectors and methods for constructing ricin B are disclosed. The coding sequence for ricin B was cloned, disposed in suitable expression vectors and produced free of components normally accompanying this peptide. In addition, a novel means of reconstructing missing portions of coding sequence, and certain improvements in messenger RNA purification are disclosed.

Abstract: Damage to cells, tissue and other body parts in a mammalian host may be treated by using a lymphokine or cytotoxin in conjunction with at least one biological modifier, which may be a free radical scavenger or a metabolic inhibitor. The biological modifier is preferably uric acid, buthionine sulphoximine, vitamin C, aspirin, or nordihydroguaiaretic acid. Such a combination may be used to treat, for example, cancer, infectious diseases, and damage caused by radiation therapy, high oxygen tension, and chemotherapy.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing the immune response to vaccination in animals, including humans, comprise administering interleukin-2 (IL-2) as part of the vaccination regimen, preferably for 5 to 14 days post-vaccination. In addition, compositions for enhancing the immune response of an animal to a vaccine employ IL-2 as an active ingredient, preferably human IL-2.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies that bind to an apparent conformational epitope associated with recombinant or native dimeric M-CSF with concomitant neutralization of biological activity, which monoclonal antibodies are substantially unreactive with biologically inactive forms of M-CSF including monomeric and chemically derivatized dimeric M-CSF, are described. Methods of using the antibodies in assays for detection of dimeric M-CSF are also described.

Abstract: A colony stimulating factor. CSF-1, is a lymphokine useful in overcoming the immunosuppression induced by chemotherapy or resulting from other causes. CSF-1 is obtained in usable amounts by recombinant methods, including cloning and expression of the murine and human DNA sequences encoding this protein.

Abstract: Medicaments, and methods of identifying the same, are described that are useful for treating papillomavirus diseases that have the characteristics of preventing, interfering with, or reversing the binding of the appropriate papillomavirus proteins E1 or E2 to a nucleotide sequence homologous to a nucleotide sequence present in the papillomavirus genome, or of the formation of a complex consisting of papillomavirus proteins E1 and E2, or the binding of the complex to the nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: Medicaments that have prophylactic or therapeutic applications for the treatment of disease resulting from the production of cytokines, particularly IL-1, that effectively inhibit the biological activity of the cytokines wherein the medicaments are characterized by being proteinaceous materials lacking a signal sequence for which a cDNA sequence has been identified and sequenced.

Abstract: Anti-tumor activity in mammals can be augmented by administering to the mammalian host a synergistically effective amount of TNF and IL-2 or of TNF and IFN-.beta., or of TNF, IL-2 and IFN-.beta. in combination. The composition of TNF and IL-2 and/or IFN-.beta. may be prepared in vitro or administered separately to the host. If the TNF and IL-2 are administered sequentially, the TNF must be administered prior to the IL-2 to obtain synergy. The composition is useful for treating such cancers as mastocytoma, melanoma, leukemia, lymphoma, mammary adenocarcinoma, and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract: A colony stimulating factor, CSF-1, is a lymphokine useful in treating or preventing bacterial, vital or fungal infections, neoplasms, leukopenia, wounds, and in overcoming the immunosuppression induced by chemotherapy or resulting from other causes. CSF-1 is obtained in usable amounts by recombinant methods, including cloning and expression of the murine and human DNA sequences encoding this protein.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are described for identifying inhibitors of mature protein hormone formation from a prohormone, and prophylactic and therapeutic uses of the inhibitors for treating diseases associated with elevated levels of the mature hormones, particulary sepsis, and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating antibodies directed against cell surface antigens. The method uses as immunogen recombinant insect cells into which have been transfected coding regions for a molecule containing a cell surface antigen. Host animals are immunized with these transfected insect cells to generate antibodies directed against the cell surface antigen. Antibody-producing cells from the host animal are used to generate monoclonal antibody-producing hybridoma cells. Sera and hybridoma supernatants can be tested for the presence of antibodies against the surface antigen, using the transfected cells in a screening assay.

Abstract: A virion expression system for a desired protein packaged in an envelope derived from a retrovirus useful in administering proteins which cross cell membranes in order to serve their function. Preferred virions are those that carry an RNA sequence that encodes cytokines or lymphokines, and includes IL-2, multiple drug resistance protein, and TNF. Particularly disclosed is a DNA construct in which a gene encoding tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is directly linked to DNA encoding a human .gamma.-interferon signal peptide.

Abstract: Compositions useful for detecting ras gene proteins are described consisting of GTP and a protein having an apparent reduced molecular weight of about 115,000-120,000 daltons, or fragments derived therefrom, that stimulate ras protein guanosine triphosphatase activity. Also described are methods whereby the compositions are used to identify cancer therapeutics.