Abstract: Methods of diagnosing peripheral nerve damage, including diagnosing and monitoring chronic back and cervical pain are disclosed. The methods involve subjecting a body fluid sample from a patient suspected of having chronic lumbar or cervical pain and peripheral nerve damage to two-dimensional electrophoresis or an immunoassay and measuring relative amounts of protein or proteins which increase or decrease in concentration as compared to a standard control. A preferred method employs an Apo-E variant as a marker of peripheral nerve damage. Also disclosed are kits for use with the diagnostic methods.

Abstract: A method for treating asthma in a patient using an agent selected from the group consisting of:(a) an antibody capable of binding to ELAM-1;(b) a fragment of the antibody (a), the fragment being capable of binding to ELAM-1;(c) ELAM-1, being substantially free of natural contaminants;(d) a functional derivative of ELAM-1;(e) an antibody capable of binding to an ELAM-1 receptor;(f) a fragment of the antibody (e), the fragment being capable of binding to an ELAM-1 receptor;(g) an ELAM-1 receptor, being substantially free of natural contaminants; and .(h) a functional derivative of an ELAM-1 receptor.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions are designed based on the criticality of a portion of C9 for assembly of the C5b9 complex, which specifically modulate binding of CD59 to C9, either molecules structurally mimicking C9 amino acid residues 359 to 384 which bind to CD59 or molecules binding to C9 amino acid residues 359 to 384. Molecules which inhibit CD59 binding include peptides containing residues 359-384 which compete for binding with the other components of the C5b9 complex and anti-idiotypic antibodies immunoreactive with C9 amino acid residues 359 to 384. Molecules which prevent assembly of the C5b-9 complex include antibodies and antibody fragments immunoreactive with amino acid residues 359 to 384 of C9, peptides that bind to amino acid residues 359 to 384 of C9, and nucleotide molecules that bind to amino acid residues 359 to 384 of C9.

Abstract: An agent capable of inhibiting signalling mediated by a .beta..sub.1 integrin cell surface receptor of leukocyte cells will treat a bacterial infection associated with a surface of a foreign body over and around which fibrin has been deposited, or a malignant tumor over and around which tenascin has been deposited. In addition, coating a foreign body with a fibrinolytic agent will prevent chronic bacterial infection associated with the surface of the foreign body. Furthermore, an agent capable of stimulating signalling mediated by a .beta..sub.1 integrin cell surface receptor of leukocyte cells will treat chronic inflammation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a human tumor-associated membrane protein (TAMPH) and polynucleotides which identify and encode TAMPH. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, antibodies and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with expression of TAMPH, as well as diagnostic assays.

Abstract: A new Bcl-2 related gene "Bfl-1", a polypeptide encoded by said gene, and a plasmid and a transformant comprising said gene are disclosed. The gene can be used to detect cancer.

Abstract: Ligands for flt3 receptors capable of transducing self-renewal signals to regulate the growth, proliferation or differentiation of progenitor cells and stem cells are disclosed. The invention is directed to flt3-L as an isolated protein, the DNA encoding the flt3-L, host cells transfected with cDNAs encoding flt3-L, compositions comprising flt3-L, methods of improving gene transfer to a mammal using flt3-L, and methods of improving transplantations using flt3-L. Flt3-L finds use in treating patients with anemia, AIDS and various cancers.

Abstract: Estrogen-nucleoside, estrogen-guanine and estrogen-mercapturate adducts are potential biomarkers for determining susceptibility of animals to a number of estrogen related cancers. These adducts may be used as biomarkers for determining risk of estrogen-induced cancers. A linker chemistry has been devised to couple these adducts to protein for production of immunogens, required for production of specific monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: It is the objective and purpose of the present invention to provide a monoclonal antibody having the property of causing apoptosis on myeloid cells.This invention relates to a monoclonal antibody having the property of causing apoptosis on myeloid cells, and fragments thereof, and furthermore relates to a hybridoma producing the monoclonal antibody.Since the monoclonal antibodies of the present invention are useful as antibodies recognizing and identifying antigens causing apoptosis on myeloid cells specifically and besides have the property of causing apoptosis on myeloid cells, they may be used as medicine useful in the field of remedies for myelocytic leukemia utilizing the property.

Abstract: The invention provides humanized immunoglobulins that specifically bind to the VLA-4 ligand, and methods of treatment using the same. The methods are particularly useful for treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an agent accelerating collagen decomposition and a therapeutic agent for fibrosis disorder containing HGFs (Hepatocyte Growth Factors) as an active ingredient. The active ingredients HGFs accelerate the decomposition of collagen (increase of collagenase activity), and can effectively treat fibrosis disorder by the acceleration of collagen decomposition. Therefore, according to the present invention, the prevention and treatment of a disease due to reduced collagenase activity and fibrosis disorders characterized by excessive production of fibroblast-derived connective tissue matrix are possible.

Abstract: The present invention features a method for treatment of an organism having a disease or condition characterized by an abnormality in a signal transduction pathway, wherein the signal transduction pathway includes a PYK2 protein. The invention also features methods for diagnosing such diseases and for screening for agents that will be useful in treating such diseases, The invention also feature purified and/or isolated nucleic acid encoding a PYK2 protein.

Abstract: Methods to identify modulators of .alpha..sub.d binding to VCAM-1 are disclosed.

Abstract: Multispecific multivalent molecules which are specific to an Fc receptor (FcR), and therapeutic uses and therapeutic uses and methods for making the molecules are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response and the prevention and treatment of primary and metastatic neoplastic diseases and infectious diseases. The methods of the invention comprise administering a composition comprising an effective amount of a complex, in which the complex consists essentially of a heat shock protein (hsp) noncovalently bound to an antigenic molecule. "Antigenic molecule" as used herein refers to the peptides with which the hsps are endogenously associated in vivo as well as exogenous antigens/immunogens (i.e., with which the hsps are not complexed in vivo) or antigenic/immunogenic fragments and derivatives thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the complex is autologous to the individual. The effective amounts of the complex are in the range of 10-600 micrograms for complexes comprising hsp70, 50-1000 micrograms for hsp90, and 10-600 micrograms for gp96.

Abstract: The present invention features a method for treatment of an organism having a disease or condition characterized by an abnormality in a signal transduction pathway, wherein the signal transduction pathway include a PYK2 protein. The invention also features methods for diagnosing such diseases and for screening for agents that will be useful in treating such diseases. The invention also features purified and/or isolated nucleic acid encoding a PYK2 protein.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the growth of brain tumors comprising peripheral administration of GM-CSF in combination with brain tumor antigen.

Abstract: The present invention provides two novel human galectins (designated individually as GAL-5HA and GAL-5HB, and collectively as GAL-5H) and polynucleotides which identify and encode GAL-5H. The invention also provides genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences encoding GAL-5H and a method for producing GAL-5H. The invention also provides for use of GAL-5H and agonists, antibodies, or antagonists specifically binding GAL-5H, in the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with expression of GAL-5H. Additionally, the invention provides for the use of antisense molecules to polynucleotides encoding GAL-5H for the treatment of diseases associated with the expression of GAL-5H. The invention also provides diagnostic assays which utilize the polynucleotide, or fragments or the complement thereof, and antibodies specifically binding GAL-5H.

Abstract: The invention includes deleting codon segments from DNA expressing a native protein (e.g., PrP.sup.Sc) in order to obtain a shorter, soluble protein which mimics characteristics of an insoluble native (e.g., PrP.sup.Sc) protein. Soluble proteins of the invention are characterized by: (1) having less amino acids than the full length native protein; (2) having a higher degree of solubility than the native protein; (3) retaining the basic biological characteristics of the native protein such as (a) not being subject to enzymatic digestion and (b) causing disease. Soluble proteins of the invention are obtained by providing a DNA sequence which encodes a native protein and systematically removing codons, making copies of the shortened versions of DNA which are then expressed to provide the shortened proteins. The shortened proteins are then tested for solubility. Soluble proteins are then further tested to confirm that they retain the biological characteristics of the native protein.

Abstract: Bispecific molecules comprising a non-immunoglobulin tumor cell specific ligand and an antibody which binds the Fc receptor of an effector cell at a site that is not inhibited by endogenous immunoglobulin are disclosed. The bispecific molecules can be used to induce a specific antibody dependent effector cell-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells, such as small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cells, either in vivo or in vitro.