Abstract: The present invention refers to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an isolated antiangiogenic peptide or a recombinant protein comprising the antiangiogenic peptide, wherein the peptide is between 11 and 40 amino acids in length and having antiangiogenic activity, the peptide comprising the amino acid sequence: X1-X2-X3-X4-X5-X6-X7-X8-X9-X10-X11-X12-X13-X14, wherein X1 is any amino acid residue compatible with forming a helix; X2 is an amino acid residue of: Leu, Ile, Val; X3 is an amino acid residue of: Arg, Lys, His, Ser, Thr; X4 is an amino acid residue of: Ile, Leu, Val; X5 is any amino acid residue compatible with forming a helix; X6 is an amino acid residue of: Leu, Ile, Val; X7 is an amino acid residue of: Leu, Ile, Val, Ser, Thr; X8 is any amino acid residue compatible with forming a helix; X9 is any amino acid residue compatible with forming a helix; X10 is an amino acid residue of: Gln, Glu, Asp, Arg, His, Lys, Asn; X11 is an amino acid residue of: Ser, Thr; X12 is an amino acid residue of: Trp

Abstract: A targeting fusion protein comprising a component that comprises a (i) ligand or derivative or fragment thereof that binds a pre-selected target surface protein, such as a receptor, and (ii) an active agent or therapeutic agent(s), and further optionally (iii) a multimerizing component and/or (iv) a signal sequence. In a preferred embodiment, the targeting fusion polypeptide targets muscle and is useful to treat a muscle-related disease or condition, such as muscle atrophy.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods of identifying, modifying and producing modified target molecules, including therapeutic molecules by modification with non-natural amino acids. Certain aspects of the invention include methods of adding a chemical moiety to a target molecule, and the compositions resulting therefrom. Certain aspects of the invention also relate to kits for identifying, modifying and producing modified target molecules described herein.

Abstract: There is described a method of magnetically manipulating a cell in vivo which comprises the association of a magnetizable particle with a cell. More particularly, there is described a method of magnetically manipulating a cell which comprises the association of a magnetizable particle with a cell characterized in that the method comprises agonizing or antagonizing ion channels within a cell by the association of a magnetizable particle with a cell. There is also described the use of a magnetizable particle in a method of magnetically manipulating a cell in vivo and/or activating ion channels in vivo.

Abstract: A polypeptide is identified as being functionally included in a signal transduction pathway having a biological effect. Contemplated polypeptides are different from a retinoic acid receptor, a retinoid X receptor, or a cellular retinoic acid binding protein, however bind a retinoid or retinoid metabolite, and binding of the retinoid or retinoid metabolite lead to a modulation of the biological effect. In particularly contemplated methods, a retinoid or retinoid metabolite is administered to a cell or mammal in a concentration effective to modulate the biological effect.

Abstract: The invention provides synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs having two peptide chains each branched from a branch moiety, such as trifunctional amino acid residues, the branch moieties separated by a first linker of from 3 to about 20 backbone atoms, which peptide chains bind a heparin-binding growth factor receptor and are covalently bound to a non-signaling peptide that includes a heparin-binding domain, preferably by a second linker, which may be a hydrophobic second linker. The synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs are useful as pharmaceutical agents, soluble biologics or as surface coatings for medical devices.

Abstract: The present provides compounds capable of modulating IL-4 receptor-mediated IgE production, as well as IL-4 induced processes associated therewith, methods and kits for identifying such compounds that utilize a chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) as a surrogate analyte and methods of using the compounds in a variety of in vitro, in vitro and ex vivo contexts.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds that include peptide and peptidomimetics that inhibit estrogen receptor dependent cell proliferation. The compounds of the invention are useful for treating cell proliferative disorders or physiological conditions characterized by undesirable or unwanted estrogen induced cell proliferation, including breast cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the inhibition of angiogenesis by neutrophil alpha-defensins. Further, the present invention relates to methods involving the inhibition of endothelial cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix, endothelial cell apoptosis, and endothelial cell angiogenesis.mediated by alpha-defensins.

Abstract: Substances that inhibit the action of the members of the IL-1?/NF-?B pathway can be used for protecting and preserving ?-cell mass and function in prediabetic and diabetic type 2 patients. Specifically, the present invention relates to the use of an Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and/or pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC) for the treatment or prophylaxis of type 2 diabetes, as well as a method for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Abstract: Amphipathic lytic peptides are ideally suited to use in a ligand/cytotoxin combination to specifically inhibit cells that are driven by or are dependent upon a specific ligand interaction; for example, to induce sterility or long-term contraception, or to attack tumor cells, or to selectively lyse virally-infected cells, or to attack lymphocytes responsible for autoimmune diseases. The peptides act directly on cell membranes, and need not be internalized. Administering a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (or a GnRH agonist) and a membrane-active lytic peptide produces long-term contraception or sterilization in animals in vivo. Administering in vivo a combination of a ligand and a membrane-active lytic peptide kills cells with a receptor for the ligand. The compounds are relatively small, and are not antigenic. Lysis of gonadotropes has been observed to be very rapid (on the order of ten minutes.) Lysis of tumor cells is rapid.

Abstract: GLP-2 analogues are disclosed which comprise one of more substitutions as compared to [hGly2]GLP-2 and which improved biological activity in vivo and/or improved chemical stability, e.g. as assessed in in vitro stability assays. More particularly, preferred GLP-2 analogues disclosed herein comprise substitutions at one or more of positions 8, 16, 24 and/or 28 of the wild-type GLP-2 sequence, optionally in combination with further substitutions at position 2 (as mentioned in the introduction) and one or more of positions 3, 5, 7, 10 and 11, and/or a deletion of one or more of amino acids 31 to 33 and/or the addition of a N-terminal or C-terminal stabilizing peptide sequence. The analogues are particularly useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of stomach and bowel-related disorders and for ameliorating side effects of chemotherapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for culturing IL-18BP expressing mammalian cells under serum-free conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the method for treatment, diagnosis and prevention of diseases related to fetal growth and placental insufficiency and comprises methods including inhibiting or increasing relaxin synthesis, relaxin receptor synthesis, relaxin binding to the relaxin receptor, and relaxin receptor activity. The invention also relates to screening assays to identify compounds that modulate relaxin and/or relaxin receptor activity. The invention further relates to gene therapy methods utilizing relaxin and relaxin-related sequences for the treatment and prevention of diseases related to fetal growth and placental insufficiency.

Abstract: The invention describes albumin fusion proteins comprising growth hormone and serum albumin. The invention also describes nucleic acid molecules encoding the albumin fusion proteins of the invention, as well as vectors containing these nucleic acid molecules, host cells transformed with these vectors, and methods of making the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and using these nucleic acids, vectors, and/or host cells. Additionally, the invention describes compositions comprising the albumin fusion proteins, and methods of treating patients in need of growth hormone, comprising administering the albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polynucleotides encoding TRP-PLIK2 polypeptides, fragments and homologues thereof. The present invention also provides polynucleotides encoding variants and splice variants of TRP-PLIK2 polypeptides, TRP-PLIK2b, TRP-PLIK2c, and TRP-PLIK2d, respectively. Also provided are vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant and synthetic methods for producing said polypeptides. The invention further relates to diagnostic and therapeutic methods for applying these novel TRP-PLIK2, TRP-PLIK2b, TRP-PLIK2c, and TRP-PLIK2d polypeptides to the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of various diseases and/or disorders related to these polypeptides. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of Fibroblast-Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) agonists for the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of pathological conditions including, but not limited to hyperproliferative disorders, bone diseases and vascular diseases. Particularly, the use of FGFR-4 agonists, e.g. anti-FGFR-4 antibodies is described. Further, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the agonist as described above and a screening procedure.

Abstract: A method for purifying a membrane protein is disclosed which includes providing a test sample potentially including a target membrane protein; adding incremental amounts of a precipitating agent to the test sample to form one or more mixtures; and treating the one or more mixtures under conditions effective to obtain precipitated, purified target membrane protein if present in the test sample.

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: This invention relates to novel protein INSP058, herein identified as TNF-like secreted protein, and to the use of this protein and the nucleic acid sequence from the encoding gene in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease.