Abstract: Novel tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, antibodies and related compositions and methods are disclosed. The polypeptides may be used for detecting ligand, as well as agonists and antagonists. The polypeptides, polynucleotides and antibodies may also be used in methods that modulate tumor growth, metastasis, and immunity such as separating resting from stimulated immune cells.

Abstract: The object is to isolate and identify human and mouse adiponectin receptors, to provide a novel protein having adiponectin binding ability, and to provide a screening method and screening kit for a ligand, agonist and antagonist to an adiponectin receptor using such protein. To achieve this object, a protein is used, as novel protein having adiponectin binding ability, that is (a) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to Seq. No. 2, 4, 6 or 8, or (b) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to Seq. No. 2, 4, 6 or 8 with one or more amino acids deleted, replaced or added, and having adiponectin binding ability.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of interferon alpha 5 in the treatment of viral hepatopathies. The invention describes the reduced synthesis of IFN?5 in the livers of patients with hepatitis C in comparison to healthy livers. The sub-type of IFN expressed in said healthy livers corresponded only to the subtype alpha 5 in comparison with the different sub-types expressed in ill livers. The sequence SEQ ID NO:1 shows the partial sequence of cDNA corresponding to IFN?5. These significant differences between the expression patterns of some livers an others demonstrate the importance of the use of such interferon sub-type in the fabrication of compositions useful in the treatment of viral hepatopathies. The invention discloses in details such utilization in different forms and processes, including those which use the production of recombinant proteins from sequences of the type SEQ ID NO:1.

Abstract: Tie1 and Tie2 are receptor tyrosine kinase proteins that include a transmembrane domain. Tie1 and Tie2 are present on endothelial cells. This disclosure describes agents, such as antibodies, that bind to Tie1, Tie2, and Ang, including ones that inhibit endothelial cell activity and angiogenesis. The agents can be used to treat angiogenesis-associated disorders.

Abstract: An antibody of the invention interacts with human DR5 or with human DR4 to produce agonistic or antagonistic effects downstream of the receptor including inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences of DR5 and DR4 antibodies have been elucidated and vectors and cells containing and expressing these sequences have been generated. Methods and uses for the antibodies are detailed including treatment of apoptosis-related disease and treatment of dysregulated cell growth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel Death Domain Containing Receptor-4 (DR4) proteins which are members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding the human DR4 proteins. DR4 polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of DR4 activity and methods for using DR4 polynucleotides and polypeptides. The invention also relates to the treatment of diseases associated with reduced or increased levels of apoptosis using antibodies specific for DR4, which may be agonists and/or antagonists of DR4 activity.

Abstract: A method of using an osteocrin (Ostn) or a NPR-C specific Ostn peptide derivative for increasing osteogenesis in a mammal comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of said Ostn or NPR-C specific Ostn peptide derivative to the mammal.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to fusion proteins comprising a Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE) and an immunoglobulin element. The invention also encompasses methods of treating a condition characterized by activation of an inflammatory cytokine cascade comprising administering such fusion proteins. The invention is also drawn to nucleic acids encoding the fusion proteins, as well as vectors and cells comprising such nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding a variety of proteins having diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, and other uses. These nucleic and proteins are useful for diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of a number of human and other animal disorders. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, expression vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules of the invention, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and non-human transgenic animals in which a nucleic acid molecule of the invention has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated polypeptides, fusion polypeptides, antigenic peptides and antibodies. Diagnostic, screening, and therapeutic methods using compositions of the invention are also provided. The nucleic acids and polypeptides of the present invention are useful as modulating agents in regulating a variety of cellular processes.

Abstract: Inhibins and activins are protein hormones that reciprocally modulate a diversity of regulatory pathways. Competitive binding experiments revealed that betaglycan, the type III TGF-? receptor, also functions as an inhibin receptor. Betaglycan augments the binding of inhibin to the ActRII activin receptor. By augmenting inhibin binding to ActRII, betaglycan effectively sequesters ActRII away from activin and thereby reduces activin signaling. In addition, the ActRII-betaglycan complex may generate novel signals distinct from those initiated by activin signaling via ActRII and ALK4. Betaglycan is produced in discrete nuclei of the rat brain and by specific cell types within the adult rat pituitary, testis, and ovary. The presence of betaglycan within inhibin-responsive tissues and cell types, together with the ability of this protoglycan to bind inhibin and to confer inhibin sensitivity, is consistent with a role of betaglycan as an inhibin-specific receptor mediating inhibin responses within various tissues.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel Death Domain Containing Receptor-4 (DR4) proteins which are members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding the human DR4 proteins. DR4 polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of DR4 activity and methods for using DR4 polynucleotides and polypeptides. The invention also relates to the treatment of diseases associated with reduced or increased levels of apoptosis using antibodies specific for DR4, which may be agonists and/or antagonists of DR4 activity.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating necrosis and for treating neurological and cardiovascular diseases are described. The inventors have shown that BNIP3 is involved in cell necrosis and cell death involved in cardiovascular and neurological diseases.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the finding that plasma cell disorders such as Multiple Myeloma and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Unknown Significance are characterized by an increase in the expression of JAG2. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for diagnosis of plasma cell disorders by detecting the expression or overexpression of JAG2. The expression or overexpression of JAG2 may be detected as increased mRNA transcripts or increased protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to truncated EGF receptor molecules that exhibit increased binding affinities for EGFR ligands such as EGF and TGF1. The present invention also relates to methods of screening for EGF receptor ligands and methods of treatment which involve the use of these molecules.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with increased risk of preeclampsia. The methods involve measuring levels of TGF-beta 3, receptors of cytokines of the TG beta family, or HIF-1 alpha.

Abstract: Forms of differentially acting glycoprotein hormones are disclosed. These compositions are of the formula ?1-(linker1)m-?-(linker2)n-?2;??(1) ?1-(linker1)m-?2-(linker2)n-?;??(2) ?-(linker1)m-?1-(linker2)n-?2;??(3) ?2??-(linker)m-?1; or??(4) ?1-(linker)m-???2??(5) wherein each of ?1 and ?2 has the amino acid sequence of the ? subunit of a vertebrate glycoprotein hormone or a variant of said amino acid sequence, as variants are defined herein. “?” designates the ? subunit of a vertebrate glycoprotein hormone or a variant thereof, “linker” refers to a covalently linked moiety that spaces the ?1 and ?2 subunits at appropriate distances from the ? subunit and from each other. “?” is a noncovalent link. Each of m and n is independently 0 or 1.

Abstract: Fusion proteins for use as ligand-dependent transcriptional regulators are provided. The fusion proteins include a nucleotide binding domain operatively linked to a ligand-binding domain. They also can include a transcription regulating domain. The nucleotide binding domain is a zinc-finger peptide that binds to a targeted contiguous nucleotide sequence of from 3 to about 18 nucleotides are provided. The fusion proteins are used for gene therapy. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the fusion proteins, expression vectors, and transfected cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to TNF-? binding molecules and nucleic acid sequences encoding TNF-? binding molecules. In particular, the present invention relates to TNF-? binding molecules with a high binding affinity, a high association rate, a low dissociation rate with regard to human TNF-? and that are capable of neutralizing TNF-? at low concentrations. Preferably, the TNF-? binding molecules of the present invention comprise light and/or heavy chain variable regions with fully human frameworks (e.g. human germline frameworks).

Abstract: The present invention involves the preparation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) variants which provide materials that are selective in respect of binding characteristics to the kinase domain region and the FMS-like tyrosine-kinase region, respectively KDR and FLT-1. The respective KDR and FLT-1 receptors are bound by corresponding domains within the VEGF compound domains. The variants hereof define those two binding regions and modify them so as to introduce changes that interrupt the binding to the respective domain. In this fashion the final biological characteristics of the VEGF molecule are selectively modified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies and related molecules that specifically bind to C3a Receptor. Such antibodies have uses, for example, in the prevention and treatment of asthma, allergy, and other related inflammatory and immune disorders. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding anti-C3a Receptor antibodies, vectors and host cells containing these nucleic acids, and methods for producing the same. The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing, detecting, diagnosing, treating or ameliorating a disease or disorder, especially inflammatory and other related disorders, comprising administering to an animal, preferably a human, an effective amount of one or more antibodies or fragments or variants thereof, or related molecules, that specifically bind to C3a Receptor.