Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of increasing an immune response in an individual, the method involving administering to an individual in need thereof an inhibitor of SIRT1. The present disclosure provides a method of reducing an immune response, e.g., to treat chronic immune hyperactivity, the method generally involving administering to an individual in need thereof an activator of SIRT1. The present disclosure provides a method of modulating activation and differentiation of CD4+ T cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of inducing smooth muscle cell differentiation. The present disclosure provides genetically modified cells comprising exogenous miR-143 and/or miR-145 nucleic acids; and artificial tissues comprising the genetically modified cells. The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for reducing pathological angiogenesis. The present disclosure provides methods of inducing therapeutic angiogenesis. The present disclosure provides methods, compositions, and devices for inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula Ia or Ib below and their tautomers and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts and compositions and methods of uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for reducing the level of amyloid beta protein in a cell or tissue, the methods generally involving contacting the cell or tissue with an agent that reduces cystatin C levels and/or activity. The present invention provides methods for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD), and methods for treating cerebral angiopathy, in an individual, the methods generally involving administering to an individual having AD a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that reduces cystatin C levels and/or activity. The present invention further provides methods for identifying an agent that reduces cystatin C levels and/or activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying candidate agents for treating excitotoxicity-related disorders. The present invention further provides methods for treating excitotoxicity-related disorders.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of increasing an immune response in an individual, the method involving administering to an individual in need thereof an inhibitor of SIRT1. The present disclosure provides a method of reducing an immune response, e.g., to treat chronic immune hyperactivity, the method generally involving administering to an individual in need thereof an activator of SIRT1. The present disclosure provides a method of modulating activation and differentiation of CD4+ T cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated HERV polypeptides; and compositions, including immunogenic compositions, comprising a HERV polypeptide. The present invention provides immunogenic compositions comprising a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a HERV polypeptide. The immunogenic compositions are useful for stimulating a T cell immune response to a lentiviral peptide. The present invention further provides methods of stimulating an immune response in an individual to a retrovirus- or lentivirus-infected cell. The present invention further provides methods of treating cancers in which HERV polypeptides are expressed. Also provided are methods of treating disorders, involving decreasing an immune response to a HERV polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated methylated Tat peptides; and compositions comprising the peptides. The present invention further provides isolated antibodies specific for a Lys-51-methylated Tat polypeptide. Also provided are methods of identifying agents that inhibit Lys-51 methylation of a Tat polypeptide. The present invention further provides methods of treating an immunodeficiency virus infection in a mammalian subject.

Abstract: This invention discloses the first cellular acetylated substrate protein of SIRT3, Acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (AceCS2), which is a mitochondrial matrix protein. AceCS2 is reversibly acetylated at lysine 642 (Lys642) in the active site of the enzyme. The mitochondrial sirtuin SIRT3 interacts with AceCS2 and deacetylates Lys642 both in vitro and in vivo. Deacetylation of AceCS2 by SIRT3 activates the acetyl-CoA synthetase activity of AceCS2. Thus, a mammalian sirtuin directly controls the activity of a metabolic enzyme via reversible lysine acetylation. Modulators of the acetylation status or the activity of AceCS2 are useful for the treatment of pathological conditions, such as type II diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, and obesity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides method of generating cardiomyocytes from post-natal fibroblasts. The present disclosure further provides cells and compositions for use in generating cardiomyocytes.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated cells comprising a nucleic acid encoding a toxic form of apoE. The present invention further provides screening methods for identifying compounds that reduce apoE-induced impairment of mitochondrial integrity and/or function. The present invention further provides kits for use in carrying out a subject screening method. The present invention provides agents that reduce apoE-induced impairment of mitochondrial integrity and/or function; and use of such agents in the treatment of apoE-related disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I below and their tautomers or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, compositions and methods of uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery of a set of genes that are involved in lipid-droplet formation and regulation. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods of increasing or decreasing lipid concentrations in eukaryotic cells by decreasing or increasing expression of one of these genes. Increased lipid concentrations may be useful, for example, in the generation of biofuels. Decreased lipid concentration may be useful in the treatment of diseases characterized by excessive lipid storage. In addition, the invention provides methods of identifying markers of diseases characterized by excessive lipid storage.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for treating neurological disorders, generally involving modulating protein kinase D1 (PKD1) activity levels in a neuron or glial cell in an individual in need thereof. The present disclosure provides antibodies specific for PKD1. The present disclosure provides a genetically modified non-human mammal deficient in PKD1 activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for reducing the level of amyloid beta protein in a cell or tissue, the methods generally involving contacting the cell or tissue with an agent that reduces cystatin C levels and/or activity. The present invention provides methods for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD), and methods for treating cerebral angiopathy, in an individual, the methods generally involving administering to an individual having AD a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that reduces cystatin C levels and/or activity. The present invention further provides methods for identifying an agent that reduces cystatin C levels and/or activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing cathepsin B-induced cleavage of amyloid-? (A?) peptide in a cell or tissue, the method generally involving contacting the cell or tissue with an agent that increases the level of cathepsin B in the cell or tissue. The present invention further provides variant cathepsin B polypeptides that are resistant to inhibition by a cysteine protease inhibitor; as well as nucleic acids encoding the variants, and host cells comprising the nucleic acids.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying an agent that inhibits an activity of a lentiviral Vif protein. The present invention provides methods of identifying an agent that increases the level of active APOBEC3G in a cell. The present invention provides agents identified by a subject screening method; and further provides methods for treating lentivirus infections.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions useful for the elimination of latent HIV reservoirs that persist despite HAART. The methods and compositions overcome this latent barrier by inducing the replication of HIV in latently infected T cells while preventing the spread of the newly produced virions to uninfected cells by providing HAART simultaneously. Compositions of the invention comprise an activator of latent HIV expression, such as prostratin, and an inhibitor of histone deacetylase, such as TSA. A surprising finding of this invention is that the inhibitor of the histone deacetylase synergizes the effect of prostratin thus, allowing administering to a patient a lower, non-toxic dose of prostratin.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying agents that reduce a level of active APOBEC3C in a cell. The present invention provides agents that reduce a level of active APOBEC3C in a cell; and compositions comprising the agents. The present invention further provides methods of reducing the mutation rate of a lentivirus in a cell; and methods of reducing the emergence of drug-resistant strains of lentivirus. The present invention further provides methods for treating lentivirus infections.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of detecting cells showing smooth muscle differentiation. The present invention further provides methods of detecting tumor cells. The present invention further provides compositions and methods for treating smooth muscle cell disorders.