Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the invention, CXCR4 agonists, including SDF-1 polypeptides and SDF-1 polypeptide homologues, may be used in reducing the rate of hematopoietic cell multiplication. Methods of the invention may comprise administration of an effective amount of an CXCR4 agonist to cells selected from the group consisting of hematopoietic stem cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells. Cells may be treated in vitro or in vivo in a patient. A therapeutically effective amount of the CXCR4 agonist may be administered to a patient in need of such treatment. Patients in need of such treatments may include, for example patients requiring bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for stimulating wound healing, and more particularly to a method for stimulating wound healing in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to a wound of the subject an effective amount for stimulating wound healing of a composition, wherein the composition comprises p43 having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or functional equivalents thereof. The composition used in the method of the present invention can be efficiently utilized for the wound healing, since p43, an effective ingredient of the composition, has an excellent effect on the wound healing by its action including the induction of macrophage/monocyte and endothelial cell, re-epithelization, proliferation of fibroblasts or angiogenesis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: This invention has as its object providing promoters of the growth and/or differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and/or hematopoietic progenitors which are useful as therapeutics of diseases that result from insufficient growth and/or differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and/or hematopoietic progenitors, in particular, as therapeutics of panhematopenia and/or diseases that are accompanied by hematopoietic hypofunction. The invention attains the stated object by providing promoters of the growth and/or differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and/or hematopoietic progenitors that contain Cofilin as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: It has been found that syntaxin binds and regulates the nucleotide binding folds (NBFs) of sulfonylurea receptors (SURs) in a ATP- and ADP-dependent manner. The present invention therefore provides methods for identifying compounds that effect the binding between a syntaxin protein and a NBF1 and/or NBF2 of a sulfonylurea receptor (SUR). Compounds identified using the method of the invention are useful for treating and/or preventing diseases and/or conditions that have, as their underlying basis, a dysregulation of KAT 191 channels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to blocking the activity of IL-TIF polypeptide molecules. IL-TIF is a cytokine involved in inflammatory processes and human disease. The present invention includes anti-IL-TIF antibodies and binding partners, as well as methods for antagonizing IL-TIF using such antibodies and binding partners in IL-TIF-related human inflammatory diseases, amongst other uses disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for increasing the growth rates, alleviating the symptoms, or improving the metabolism of human patients having insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiency (IGFD). The invention relates to methods comprising administering insulin-like growth factor-I to a patient having a height which, at the time of treatment or prior to initial treatment with IGF-1, is at least about 2 standard deviations below normal for a subject of the same age and gender, a blood level of insulin-like growth factor-I that, and at the time of treatment or prior to initial treatment with IGF-1, is below normal mean levels, usually at least about 1 standard deviations below normal mean levels, for age and gender.

Abstract: The growth hormone supergene family comprises greater than 20 structurally related cytokines and growth factors. A general method is provided for creating site-specific, biologically active conjugates of these proteins. The method involves adding cysteine residues to non-essential regions of the proteins or substituting cysteine residues for non-essential amino acids in the proteins using site-directed mutagenesis and then covalently coupling a cysteine-reactive polymer or other type of cysteine-reactive moiety to the proteins via the added cysteine residue. Disclosed herein are preferred sites for adding cysteine residues or introducing cysteine substitutions into the proteins, and the proteins and protein derivatives produced thereby.

Abstract: It is intended to identify and provide a novel carnitine transporter gene participating in carnitine transport in the testis and epididymis and carnitine transporter which is a protein encoded by the gene. A protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 or an amino acid sequence derived therefrom by deletion, substitution or addition of one to several amino acids and being capable of transporting carnitine or its analog; and a gene encoding this protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates in part to isolated nucleic acid molecules (polynucleotides) which encode Drosophila melanogaster ligand-gated ion channel proteins. The present invention also relates to recombinant vectors and recombinant hosts which contain a DNA fragment encoding Drosophila ligand-gated ion channel proteins, substantially purified forms of associated Drosophila ligand-gated ion channel proteins and recombinant membrane fractions comprising these proteins, associated mutant proteins, and methods associated with identifying compounds which modulate associated Drosophila melanogaster ligand-gated ion channel proteins, which will be useful as insecticides.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for selectively inhibiting the proliferation of stellate cells, which are important for the development of liver fibrosis upon liver injury. The invention describes conditioned media from immortalized hepatocytes as containing a death factor that induces apoptosis of activated liver stellate cells. This pro-apoptotic activity is shown to be associated with an 80 kDa protein, which is associated with a fetuin peptide sequence and an albumin peptide sequence.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention has found that a series of peptides having sequences that substantially correspond to specific regions of the C-terminus of IL-16 can inhibit the activity of IL-16. The present invention has demonstrated that such IL-16-inhibiting peptides can be as short as 4 amino acids in length. Based on these discoveries, the present invention provides IL-16 antagonist peptides and the use thereof for the treatment of IL-16 mediated disorders such as certain inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: Multipotent neural stem cell (MNSC) progeny are induced to generate cells of the hematopoietic system by placing the MNSC progeny in a hematopoietic-inducing environment. The hematopoietic-inducing environment can be either ex vivo or in vivo. A mammal's circulatory system provides an in vivo environment that can induce xenogeneic, allogeneic, or autologous MNSC progeny to generate a full complement of hematopoietic cells. Transplantation of MNSC progeny provides an alternative to bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to treat blood-related disorders.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods to manipulate differentiation of a neuroblastoma cell line (IMR-32) such that predominant Nav expression is either Nav1.3 in IMR-32 cells exposed to retinoic acid or Nav1.7 in cells grown under non-differentiating conditions. The cells of the present invention are useful for the discovery of new compounds that modulate the function of either Nav1.3 and/or Nav1.7.