Abstract: A method for producing a neuroblast and a cellular composition comprising an enriched population of neuroblast cells is provided. Also disclosed are methods for identifying compositions which affect neuroblasts and for treating a subject with a neuronal disorder, and a culture system for the production and maintenance of neuroblasts.

Abstract: A compound for delivering a non-cytotoxic therapeutic moiety into nerve cells, the compound having the general formula: B-L-TM where: B is a binding agent capable of selectively binding to a nerve cell surface receptor and mediating absorption of the compound by the nerve cell; TM is a therapeutic moiety which has a non-cytotoxic therapeutic effect when absorbed by a nerve cell; and L is a linker coupling B to TM.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods relating to inhibition of PUMA function for preventing or reducing myocardial cell death. A method for preventing or reducing ischemia/reperfusion induced myocardial cell death in a human is provided as are methods for identifying pharmaceuticals which interfere with PUMA function. Also herein provided is a method for reducing stem cell death in stem cell explants wherein the explants are intended to restore cardiac efficiency following cell death in response to coronary infarct.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-immunostimulatory antibody which lacks antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, Fc gamma receptor binding and complement-mediated cytotoxicity. In some embodiments, the antibody contains a modified immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) Fc region with at least one substitution in the B/C loop, FcRn binding domain, and the F/G loop. The antibody of the invention is useful in the preparation of therapeutic antibodies and pharmaceutical compositions and kits containing the same.

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 invention relates to a method of preparing heteromultimeric polypeptides such as bispecific antibodies, bispecific immunoadhesins and antibody-immunoadhesin chimeras. The invention also relates to the heteromultimers prepared using the method. Generally, the method involves introducing a protuberance at the interface of a first polypeptide and a corresponding cavity in the interface of a second polypeptide, such that the protuberance can be positioned in the cavity so as to promote heteromultimer formation and hinder homomultimer formation. “Protuberances” are constructed by replacing small amino acid side chains from the interface of the first polypeptide with larger side chains (e.g. tyrosine or tryptophan). Compensatory “cavities” of identical or similar size to the protuberances are created in the interface of the second polypeptide by replacing large amino acid side chains with smaller ones (e.g. alanine or threonine).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the degree of macrophage-associated negative effects on a vertebrate including a human, the method including assaying diacetylpolyamine contained in a sample collected from the vertebrate. According to the method of the present invention, metabolic conditions of macrophages can be monitored, and the degree of macrophage-associated negative effects on a vertebrate (including a human) can be determined. Specifically, the present invention can predict, through assay of diacetylpolyamine, pathological condition which is considered a macrophage-related disease; e.g., recurrence of cancer or malignant tumor, or infiltration or activation of cancer or malignant tumor cells; denaturation or degeneration of neurons associated with Alzheimer's disease; or onset or progression of an autoimmune disease (e.g., rheumatism or Crohn's disease) or arteriosclerosis. Therefore, the present invention is very useful for clinical tests.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a methods for producing recombinant heterodimeric BMP proteins useful in the field of treating bone defects, healing bone injury and in wound healing in general. The invention also relates to the recombinant heterodimers and compositions containing them.

Abstract: A compound for delivering a non-cytotoxic therapeutic moiety into nerve cells, the compound having the general formula: B-L-TM where: B is a binding agent capable of selectively binding to a nerve cell surface receptor and mediating absorption of the compound by the nerve cell; TM is a therapeutic moiety which has a non-cytotoxic therapeutic effect when absorbed by a nerve cell; and L is a linker coupling B to TM.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising gastrointestinal proliferative factor SCFA2, SCFA4 or SCFA4v polynucleotides and polypeptides. The invention further relates to the therapeutic use of SCFA2, SCFA4 or SCFA4v to prevent or treat conditions or disorders associated with the degeneration of the epithelial mucosa.

Abstract: The invention provides a diagnostics assay for measuring the responsiveness to a drug by comparing the protein levels of a gene that responds to the drug, such as a steroid, to the protein levels of a gene that does not respond to the drug. Methods according to the invention are useful for predicting the ability of a patient (or a tissue, body fluid or cell sample in vitro) to respond to a drug or steroid at any stage of their treatment (i.e., before, during or after), and to monitor the patient (or a tissue, body fluid or cell) over time to assess continued responsiveness to the drug or steroid.

Abstract: The invention provides neuron-derived cells obtained by transfecting a receptor-expressing nucleic acid having an aryl hydrocarbon receptor gene, wherein outgrowth of neurites is not observed without adding a substance for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, and outgrowth of neurites is observed by adding the substance for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. The invention also provides a method for determining the presence of neurotoxicity of a test substance, a method for acquiring a marker for determining the presence of neurotoxicity of the test substance, a method for acquiring a marker for neurological dysfunction, and a method for determining the effect of the test substance on neurological dysfunction using such cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to human, rat and mouse stem cell-derived neuron survival factor polypeptides (SDNSF), a process for producing them, cDNA encoding SDNSF, a vector comprising the cDNA, host cells transformed by the vector, an antibody against SDNSF, pharmaceutical compositions containing SDNSF or the antibody, a method of assaying SDNSF, a reagent for assaying SDNSF, and a screening method using SDNSF. The polypeptides are effective in the survival of nerve cells and neuronal stem cells, therefore, efficacious in treating injury to the central nerve system and cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides improved methods and compositions for selectively binding and/or detecting an aggregating abnormal form of a protein in the presence of non-aggregating normal form of the protein.

Abstract: An attenuated feline recombinant herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1), which is prepared by identifying gene regions in the genome wherein inserted foreign genes can be expressed without affecting the replication of FHV-1 and has least two types of foreign nucleic acid sequences inserted thereinto, usable as a vector virus or a vaccine. In this attenuated recombinant FHV-1, at least two types of foreign genes are inserted in such a manner as allowing the expression into two different gene regions exerting no lethal effect on the proliferation of the virus in the feline herpesvirus 1 genome.

Abstract: The invention describes an in vitro method for detecting a psychiatric disorder occurring with psychosis selected from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in an individual who has suffered a first psychotic episode, or for determining the state or severity of said disorder, or for monitoring the effect of a therapy administered to an individual who suffers said disorder, or for evaluating the predisposition of an individual presenting a prodromal symptom to develop said disorder, based on the use of the brain-derived neutrophic factor (BDNF) as a marker.

Abstract: The present invention provides chimeric nucleic acids, preferably contained on an expression vector, that encode chimeric immunogenic polypeptides. The nucleic acids encode at least site III of a lyssavirus glycoprotein, which has been found to improve the immunogenicity of lyssavirus epitopes for protection from rabies. The chimeric nucleic acids and proteins can also contain antigenic determinants for epitopes other than those of lyssavirus. Thus, the invention provides chimeric nucleic acids and polypeptides that elicit a strong immune response to multiple antigens. Use of the methods of the present invention permits DNA vaccination without the need to supply multiple antigens on separate DNA molecules.

Abstract: A novel cytosolic 58 kd phosphoprotein induced during bone marrow stem cell (BM) differentiation into dendritic cells (DC) during in vitro cultivation with the cytokine GM-CSF by addition of antisera to an 82 kd BM cell surface protein generating cultivatable dendritic progenitor cells (DP). Genes, methods for preparing them as well as early DP have been provided. Potential uses/advantages lie in the study of BM differentiation and innate immunity due to stimulatory/inhibitory DC, contribution of (BM) and DP to inflammation during infection and carcinogenesis, tumor promotion/regression, identification of BM-derived blood cells, T-cell activation/regulation/tolerance and inflammation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing heteromultimeric polypeptides such as bispecific antibodies, bispecific immunoadhesins and antibody-immunoadhesin chimeras. The invention also relates to the heteromultimers prepared using the method. Generally, the method involves introducing a protuberance at the interface of a first polypeptide and a corresponding cavity in the interface of a second polypeptide, such that the protuberance can be positioned in the cavity so as to promote heteromultimer formation and hinder homomultimer formation. “Protuberances” are constructed by replacing small amino acid side chains from the interface of the first polypeptide with larger side chains (e.g. tyrosine or tryptophan). Compensatory “cavities” of identical or similar size to the protuberances are created in the interface of the second polypeptide by replacing large amino acid side chains with smaller ones (e.g. alanine or threonine).

Abstract: A new nucleic acid molecule that is codon-optimized to expressbeta interferon in Escherichia coli with greater efficacy.