Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating tissue damage caused by ischemia/reperfusion, microbial infection, or sepsis using (1→3)-&bgr;-D-glucans to modulate immune response mediators and their effects.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the expression of aquaporin proteins by contacting aquaporin producing cells with interferon-&agr; is described. The method enables treatment of patients afflicted with disease states characterized by xerosis.

Abstract: A process for the determination of the toxicity preventing activity (TPA) of human blood serum, i.e., the effectiveness of the serum in preventing or inhibiting the destructive effect of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) on test cells, and the use of this TPA value for classifying the serum as to atherosclerosis risk or potential. The process comprises:(a) providing a culture of cells which are injured by elevated levels of VLDL;(b) adding thereto a toxic quantity of VLDL and a selected quantity of human blood serum;(c) maintaining the culture for a known period; and(d) determining the cell growth of the culture and relating the same to the cell growth of a reference culture.