Abstract: The present invention provides peptides having T cell stimulating activity termed recombitope peptides. Recombitope peptides of the invention preferably comprise at least two T cell epitopes derived from the same or from different protein antigens, and more preferably comprise at least two regions, each region preferably having human T cell stimulating activity and each region comprising at least one T cell epitope derived from a protein antigen. Recombitope peptides of the invention can be derived from protein allergens, autoantigens, or other protein antigens. The invention also provides methods of diagnosing sensitivity to a protein allergen or other protein antigen in an individual, methods to treat such sensitivity and therapeutic compositions comprising one or more recombitope peptides. The invention further provides methods for designing recombitope peptides of the invention where the protein antigen to which the individual is sensitive has unknown or ill-defined T cell epitopes.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of creating and using OB protein compositions with an antibody constant region or portion thereof fused to an OB protein. The fusion protein is created by attaching the polyamino acids to the OB protein moiety. The fusion proteins can then be used for various therapeutic uses.

Abstract: Disclosed are human VEGF-2 antibodies, antibody fragments, or variants thereof. Also provided are processes for producing such antibodies. The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing, treating or ameliorating a disease or disorder comprising administering to an animal, preferably a human, an effective amount of one or more VEGF-2 antibodies or fragments or variants thereof.

Abstract: The use of an agent in the manufacture of a medicament to affect an allergic condition and/or a hypersensitivity condition is described. The agent is capable of modulating a ganglioside associated activity. The agent is not coupled to an antigen. The modulation of the ganglioside associated activity affects an allergic condition and/or a hypersensitivity condition.

Abstract: Anti-acetyllysine monoclonal antibody capable of recognizing N?-acetyllysine regardless of the types of the adjacent amino acids. Namely, a monoclonal antibody having a light chain comprising a constant region having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 and a variable region having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 or an amino acid sequence derived from this amino acid sequence by deletion, substitution or addition of one to several amino acids, and a heavy chain comprising a constant region having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:3 and a variable region having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:4 or an amino acid sequence derived from this amino acid sequence by deletion, substitution or addition of one to several amino acids, and being capable of recognizing N?-acetyllysine in a protein regardless of the types of the adjacent amino acids, i.e.

Abstract: Method of treating a disease or pathological condition with activated protein C or a compound having activated protein C activity by direct regulation of the expression of specific genes associated with the disease or pathological condition.

Abstract: A method of treating an infertility condition in humans or mammals, by exposure of a prospective mother to TGF beta or derivative or analog of TGF beta. The exposure is advantageously in conjunction with one more antigens of a prospective father so that a hyporesponsive immune reaction is mounted to the one or more antigens of the prospective father.

Abstract: A peptide sequence of the so-called minor H antigen. The minor H antigens are associated with Graft versus Host disease. The peptide and its derivatives find many uses in bone marrow transplantation, organ transplantation, and in the treatment of leukemia. The peptide and its derivatives can be incorporated into vaccines and pharmaceutical formulations, and they can be used in diagnostic test kits. The peptide is derived from the HA-1 minor antigen, and has the sequence VLXDDLLEA (SEQ ID NO: 1), wherein X represents a histidine or arginine residue. Both donors and recipients in bone marrow transplantation can be treated with the peptides, optionally in combination with other peptides, coupled to carriers, and with suitable excipients and/or adjuvants.

Abstract: The present invention provides an MHC class II antigen presentation enhancing hybrid polypeptide. The hybrid has an N-terminus comprising the mammalian Ii key peptide LRMKLPKPPKPVSKMR (SEQ ID NO: 1) and modifications thereof which retain antigen presentation enhancing activity, a C-terminus comprising an antigenic epitope in the form of a polypeptide or peptidomimetic structure which binds to the antigenic peptide binding site of an MHC class II molecule, and an intervening chemical structure covalently linking the N-terminal and C-terminal components.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods of inhibiting or inducing activation of T cells in a patient. The methods comprise administering a therapeutically effective dose of pharmaceutical compositions comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and peptides of between about 4 and about 20 residues, that bind antigen binding sites on MHC molecules encoded by substantially all alleles of a DR locus. These peptides are referred to as pan DR binding peptides. The pan DR binding peptides can be used to inhibit immune responses associated with immunopathologies, such as autoimmunity, allograft rejection and allergic responses. The peptides can also be used in combination with CTL peptides to enhance a CTL response.

Abstract: Presented are intrinsically fluorescent, self-multimerizing MHC fusion proteins, and complexes assembled therefrom that are capable of detectably labeling antigen-specific T lymphocytes. Also presented are methods for labeling antigen-specific T lymphocytes with the intrinsically fluorescent complexes of the present invention, and methods, particularly flow cytometric methods, for detecting, enumerating, enriching, and depleting antigen specific T lymphocytes so labeled.

Abstract: A human ECM-1 polypeptide and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptide and a procedure for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptide for stimulating the differentiation in growth of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which may be used to promote the healing of bone fractures and de novo bone formation, for osteoporosis, for and to promote angiogenesis. Antagonists to the polypeptide of the present invention are also disclosed which may be utilized to treat osteodystrophy, osteohypertrophy, osteoma, osteoblastoma and cancers. Diagnostic assays for identifying mutations in nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention.

Abstract: Conjugated peptides include a first peptide component which is an antigen associated with autoimmune disease, allergy, asthma or transplantation rejection and binds to an antigen-specific receptor on a T cell, and a second peptide component which corresponds to an “antigen presenting molecule”, namely, a peptide binding to a T cell surface receptor, which would normally promote T cell activation when the first peptide is bound to its antigen-specific T cell receptor. However, in this invention, the second peptide component has an amino acid sequence which is a modification of an antigen presenting T cell binding peptide, such modification blocking or inhibiting the engagement of receptor sites on the T cell surface (other than the antigen-specific T cell receptor). As a result, T cell activation is prevented, and is directed through antigen-specific T cell receptor occupation, without T cell activation, leading to antigen-specific T cell anergy and cell death.

Abstract: Novel Type III density enhanced protein tyrosine phosphatases are disclosed and exemplified by human DEP-1 enzyme. Polynucleotides encoding huDEP-1 are disclosed, along with methods and materials for production of the same by recombinant procedures. Binding molecules specific for DEP-1 are also disclosed as useful for modulating the biological activities of DEP-1.

Abstract: Human monoclonal antibodies which bind specifically to Fc alpha receptor (CD89), including monoclonal antibodies which react specifically to Fc receptor for IgA of human effector cells are disclosed. The binding agents, e.g., antibodies are useful for targeting human effector cells (e.g. macrophages) against a target cell (e.g. a cancer cell, an infectious agent, etc.). For this purpose, bifunctional antibodies or heteroantibodies can be constructed containing the binding region derived from an anti-Fc-alpha receptor antibody and the binding region of a target-specific antibody. Targeted effector cells can specifically lyse target cells.

Abstract: Proteins which are capable of modulating/mediating the function of RIP, their preparation and uses are provided.

Abstract: Genes each encoding a novel transcriptional regulator having a bromodomain have been successfully isolated from a human testis cDNA library using primers prepared based on an EST sequence found using the bromodomain sequence of the transcriptional regulator. These genes are structurally analogous to each other.

Abstract: A monoclonal antibody, 3E10, and active fragments thereof that selectively are transported in vivo to the nucleus of mammalian cells without cytotoxic effect are provided. The antibody and other molecules that bind to a variant of myosin IIb heavy chain found in the nucleus of skeletal muscle cells are useful as a non-viral delivery vector to target skeletal muscle in vivo. By contrast, in vitro the monoclonal antibody penetrates and is transported to the nucleus of multiple cell lines derived from different tissue types and can be used in screening tests to identify molecules that modulate growth of cells, such as cancer cells. Non-cytotoxic vectors for delivering a drug, polynucleotide or polypeptide selectively to skeletal muscle cells are also provided.

Abstract: A novel gene having the consensus sequence of a serine-threonine kinase active site has been isolated by the suppression subtractive hybridization method which comprised of preparing a library of genes expressed specifically in fetal livers and isolating clones from this library at random. This gene presumably participates in cell growth control because it is highly expressed, especially in actively growing cells, and exhibits a significant homology with a vaccinia virus B1R kinase gene. Thus, it can be utilized as a target for developing cell growth inhibitors or antitumor agents.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing human immunoglobulin concentrates for therapeutic use, from plasma or a plasma fraction. The method comprises pre-purification and a single anion-exchange chromatography carried out at alkaline pH, thereby enabling the immunoglobulins to be retained on the chromatographic support and fractionated. The method enables to obtain IgG, IgA and IgM concentrates.