Abstract: The purpose is to proliferate a mesenchymal stem cell to a sufficient degree while reducing the amount of blood serum contained in a biological tissue progenitor cell to be grafted, and to efficiently differentiate the mesenchymal stem cell into the biological tissue progenitor cell. There is provided a method for culturing a mesenchymal stem cell, comprising: a first culture step of proliferating a mesenchymal stem cell in a medium containing blood serum; and a second culture step of differentiating the mesenchymal stem cell into a biological tissue progenitor cell in a medium containing blood serum at a lower concentration than that in the medium used in the first culture step.

Abstract: According to the present invention, purified, isolated and cloned nucleic acid polynucleotide encoding hypoxia-regulating genes and the proteins thereof and antibodies directed against the proteins which have sequences as set forth in SEQ ID No:1, SEQ ID No:2, SEQ ID No:3, SEQ ID No:4, SEQ ID No:5 and SEQ ID No:6 are provided. The present invention further provides transgenic animals and cell lines as well as knock-out organisms of these sequences. The present invention further provides methods of regulating angiogenesis or apoptosis or regulating response to hypoxic conditions in a patient in need of such treatment.

Abstract: An active ubiquitin E3 ligase, GRAIL, is crucial in the induction of anergy in cells of the immune system, and in the regulation of cellular proliferation. GRAIL is shown to associate with, and be regulated by Otubain isoforms, including OTUBAIN-1 (DOG, the Destabilizer of GRAIL) and an alternative reading frame splice variant of OTUBAIN-1 (SOG, the Stabilizer of GRAIL). These proteins play opposing roles in the regulation of GRAIL auto-ubiquitination and consequently on its ability to induce anergy and regulate cellular proliferation. DOG serves as an adaptor protein, recruiting the DUB USP8. One major substrate for USP8 is the Ras exchange factor Ras-GRF1, and this protein can be found in a complex with USP8 and GRAIL, which complex is ubiquitinated by GRAIL.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an immunodeficient animal capable of generating human-derived lymphoid cells, a human-derived lymphoid cell, and a method for producing a human antigen-specific antibody. The means for solving the aforementioned object is: an immature immunodeficient mammal into which human-derived hematopoietic precursor cells have been transplanted, and which is able to generate said human-derived hematopoietic cells or immunocompetent cells; and a method for producing a human-derived antibody, which is characterized in that it comprises recovering immunocompetent cells from the above-described mammal, culturing the immunocompetent cells, and collecting a human-derived antibody from the obtained culture product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to double-stranded oligonucleotides, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and use of such double-stranded oligonucleotides and pharmaceutical compositions to modulate nociceptive signaling in a cell or prevent and/or treat pain in a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a replicon RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence at least containing the 5? untranslated region, the nucleotide sequence encoding NS3 protein, NS4A protein, NS4B protein, NS5A protein and NS5B protein, and the 3? untranslated region on the genomic RNA of hepatitis C virus of genotype 2a.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of obtaining compositions for generating multipotent hematopoietic stem progenitor cells comprising expansion of hematopoietic stem cells in the presence of HDACI and IDM. Methods of obtaining compositions enriched in hematopoietic megakaryocyte progenitor cells are also provided. Compositions enriched for stem cells and populations of cells obtained therefrom are also provided by the invention.

Abstract: A tissue regeneration substrate comprising a film with a honeycomb structure composed primarily of a polymer compound and a phospholipid. A tissue regeneration complex comprising the tissue regeneration substrate and cells held in the tissue regeneration substrate. The substrate is particularly suitable for regeneration of cartilage tissue, and allows growth of cartilage tissue in a three-dimensional fashion.

Abstract: Polyamine cationic lipids have been synthesized that have the ability to be transported into cells having an active polyamine transport system. Accordingly, these lipids may be conjugated with various agents and, thereby, act as vectors for transporting the agent into the cell aided by the cell's own polyamine transport system. A method of delivering an agent into a cell includes associating the agent with a polyamine cationic lipid selected from compounds 25, 26, 27, 28, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and combinations thereof and contacting the cell therewith.

Abstract: Tumor suppressor genes play a major role in the pathogenesis of human lung cancer and other cancers. Cytogenetic and allelotyping studies of fresh tumor and tumor-derived cell lines showed that cytogenetic changes and allele loss on the short arm of chromosome 3 (3p) are most frequently involved in about 90% of small cell lung cancers and greater than 50% of non-small cell lung cancers. A group of recessive oncogenes, Fus1, 101F6, Gene 21 (NPRL2), Gene 26 (CACNA2D2), Luca 1 (HYAL1), Luca 2 (HYAL2), PL6, 123F2 (RaSSFI), SEM A3 and Beta* (BLU), as defined by homozygous deletions in lung cancers, have been located and isolated at 3p21.3.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for the sensitive and selective detection of ions using nucleic acid enzymes.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical preparation comprises nano-level particles (nanospheres) of a biocompatible polymer having, as held on their surfaces, an NF?B decoy capable of binding to NF?B to inhibit its activity. With penetration of the nanoparticles inside cells, the NF?B decoy may be delivered to an affected site and the NF?B decoy may be released from the surfaces of the nanoparticles and may be thereby efficiently and specifically introduced into the affected site.

Abstract: A method for producing L-glutamic acid by culturing a coryneform bacterium which has L-glutamic acid producing ability and which has been modified so that expression of the fasR gene is enhanced in a medium to produce and accumulate L-glutamic acid in the medium or cells, and collecting L-glutamic acid from the medium or cells.

Abstract: Methods and reagents for effecting transgene expression in Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSC) comprising a 2.2 kb fragment of the promoter region of the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) gene, said construct being up-regulated by pro-fÊbronetic cytokines such as TGF-beta 1 in a dose and time dependent manner, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides adenoviral vectors comprising cell status-specific transcriptional regulatory elements which confer cell status-specific transcriptional regulation on an adenoviral gene. A “cell status” is generally a reversible physiological and/or environmental state. The invention further provides compositions and host cells comprising the vectors, as well as methods of using the vectors.