Abstract: The invention provides a human NADH dehydrogenase B17 subunit (NDB17) and polynucleotides which identify and encode NDB17. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, agonists, antibodies and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for treating disorders associated with expression of NDB17.

Abstract: Aminoterminal propeptide of type I procollagen exists in serum in two forms: classical type I procollagen which is a heterotrimer containing two pro .alpha.1-chains and one pro .alpha.2-chain of type I procollagen, and an .alpha.1-homotrimer type I procollagen containing three identical pro .alpha.1-chains. These intact, trimeric aminoterminal propeptides may be isolated without the use of proteolytic enzymes and the resultant propeptides may be used to prepare antibodies specific for the intact trimeric propeptide, having no affinity for the monomeric form of the propeptide. Such antibodies are useful in methods of assaying intact trimeric aminoterminal propeptide of type I procollagen in serum, without false information resulting from inadvertent assay of the monomeric form of the propeptide.

Abstract: Humoral and cellular immune responses against tumor cells and infectious agents are induced in a mammal using an antibody that binds with an epitope of an antigen that is associated with a tumor or an infectious agent, and that contains at least one .alpha.-galactosyl epitope. Such an antibody is capable of forming a complex with cells that express the target epitope and with antibodies that bind .alpha.-galactosyl epitopes. Suitable antibodies include molecules that contain at least one engineered glycosylation site in the constant region of the heavy chain.

Abstract: A cytotoxic protein expressed by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells is isolated in essentially homogenous form. This protein may be used to elicit production of polyclonal or monoclonal anti-cytotoxin antibodies.Hybridomas secreting anti-cytotoxin antibodies are identified by a solid phase bioassay. The antibodies are useful in the immunopurification of cytotoxins. The purified cytotoxic proteins are useful for the treatment of virus-infected or tumor target cells, either alone or in combination with interferon or a metabolic blocker.

Abstract: Aminoterminal propeptide of type I procollagen exists in serum in two forms: classical type I procollagen which is a heterotrimer containing two pro .alpha.1-chains and one pro .alpha.2-chain of type I procollagen, and an .alpha.1-homotrimer type I procollagen containing three identical pro .alpha.1-chains. These intact, trimeric aminoterminal propeptides may be isolated without the use of proteolytic enzymes and the resultant propeptides may be used to prepare antibodies specific for the intact trimeric propeptide, having no affinity for the monomeric form of the propeptide. Such antibodies are useful in methods of assaying intact trimeric aminoterminal propeptide of type I procollagen in serum, without false information resulting from inadvertent assay of the monomeric form of the propeptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated human mesenchymal stem cells, a method for isolating, purifying, and culturally expanding human mesenchymal stem cells (i e. mesenchymal stem cells or "MSCs"), and characterization of (including by cytokine expression profiling) and uses, particularly research reagent, diagnostic and therapeutic uses for such cells. The stem cells can be culture expanded without differentiating. Further disclosed are monoclonal antibodies specific for human mesenchymal stem cells and the monoclonal hybridoma cell lines (ATCC nos. 10743-10745) that synthesize and secrete these monospecific antibodies, and uses of the monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery of a differentiation antigen termed mesothelin which is associated with mesotheliomas and ovarian cancers. Mesothelin is about 69 kD in its full-length form. The invention includes uses for the amino acid and nucleic acid sequences for mesothelin, recombinant cells expressing it, methods for targeting and/or inhibiting the growth of cells bearing mesothelin, methods for detecting the antigen and its expression level as an indication of the presence of tumor cells, and kits for such detection.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of inducing the production of cytolytic T lymphocytes directed against malignancy or infectious agent by a mammal and treating such disease such that deleterious side effects are minimized and treatment of metastatic melanomas are surprisingly and dramatically improved.

Abstract: The invention provides a human prostate-associated serine protease (PRASP) and polynucleotides which identify and encode PRASP. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for treating or preventing disorders associated with expression of PRASP.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of enhancing the chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity of a neoplastic cell expressing an oncoprotein that stimulates proliferation of the cell, comprising introducing into the cell a nucleic acid molecule encoding an antibody homologue, wherein the antibody homologue is expressed intracellularly and binds to the oncoprotein intracellularly in the endoplasmic reticulum of the cell. The present invention is also directed to a method for enhancing the inhibition of proliferation of a neoplastic cell expressing an oncoprotein that stimulates proliferation of the cell, comprising the steps of: introducing into the cell a nucleic acid molecule encoding an antibody homologue, wherein the antibody homologue is expressed intracellularly and binds to the protein intracellularly; and contacting said cell with an anti-neoplastic agent.

Abstract: Methods for the detection, monitoring and treatment of malignancies in which the HER-2/neu oncogene is associated are disclosed. Detection of specific T cell activation (e.g., by measuring the proliferation of T cells) in response to in vitro exposure to the HER-2/neu protein, or detection of immunocomplexes formed between the HER-2/neu protein and antibodies in body fluid, allows the diagnosis of the presence of a malignancy in which the HER-2/neu oncogene is associated. The present invention also discloses methods and compositions, including peptides, for treating such malignancies.

Abstract: Compositions characterized by ADP-ribosyltransferase activity are useful in promoting prophylactic and/or therapeutic responses as are promoted by, e.g., pertussis toxin but directed against another target antigen (e.g., a cancer-related antigen) in a mammalian patient.

Abstract: Novel genes expressed selectively by long-term dendritic cell (DC) lines (XS series) from murine epidermis which retain important features of resident epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) are provided. These genes encode distinct type II membrane-integrated polypeptides, each consisting of a cytoplasmic domain, a transmembrane domain, an extracellular connecting domain, and a C-terminal extracellular domain that exhibits significant homology to the carbohydrate recognition domains (CRD) of C-type lectins. Expression of both genes is highly restricted to cells of DC lineage (including epidermal LC). Thus, these genes encode new, DC-specific members of the C-type lectin family, now termed "DC-associated C-type lectin-1 and -2" (dectin-1 and dectin-2). Two isoforms of the dectin-1 molecule and five isoforms of the dectin-2 molecule have also been identified. The invention further provides His-tagged fusion proteins comprising 6.times. histidine and the extracellular domain of dectin-1 or dectin-2.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel human tumor proteins (collectively called TUPRO) and polynucleotides which identify and encode TUPRO. The invention also provides genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences encoding TUPRO. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing TUPRO or antagonists to TUPRO, and in the use of these compositions for the treatment of diseases associated with the expression of TUPRO. Additionally, the invention provides for the use of antisense molecules to polynucleotides encoding TUPRO for the treatment of diseases associated with the expression of TUPRO. The invention also provides diagnostic assays which utilize the polynucleotide, or fragments or the complement thereof, to hybridize to the genomic sequence or transcripts of polynucleotides encoding TUPRO or anti-TUPRO antibodies which specifically bind to TUPRO.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing preclinical insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus by determining the T cell response to a specific islet cell antigen fetal antigen 1 (FA1) or the presence of autoantibodies against FA1 in serum, a test kit for use in the method, as well as a pharmaceutical composition of FA1 and a method for use of the pharmaceutical composition for therapy of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: Two classes of polypeptides derived from human IgE are described. One class binds selectively to the high affinity IgE receptor on mast cells and basophils, but not to the low affinity IgE receptor on B-cells, monocytes, eosinophils and platelets. The other class binds to the low affinity receptor, but not the high affinity receptor. The differential binding polypeptides of this invention are useful in diagnostic procedures for IgE receptors or in the therapy of IgE-mediated disorders such as allergies. They also are useful in preparing antibodies capable of binding regions of IgE that participate in receptor binding.

Abstract: Growth of transition cell carcinoma cells is found to be inhibited by dextran sulfate. Intravesicular instillation of a dextran sulfate solution prevents growth of bladder carcinoma cells. Dextran sulfate has an inhibitory effect on binding of insulin-like growth factor to bladder tumor cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the finding that cyclin D1 interacts with estrogen receptor to provide activation of estrogen responsive genes. The present invention provides in vitro and in vivo assays to measure the interaction. The in vivo assays may be conducted in cells which grow in response to estrogen, particularly breast tumour cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polynucleotide which identifies and encodes a novel human macrophage antigen (TMAH). The invention provides for genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequence encoding TMAH. The invention also provides for the use of substantially purified TMAH and its agonists, antibodies, antagonists or inhibitors in pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of diseases associated with expression of TMAH. The invention also describes diagnostic assays which utilize the polynucleotide to hybridize with the genomic sequence or transcripts encoding TMAH and anti-TMAH antibodies which specifically bind to TMAH.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for modulating the adhesion of leukocytes to brain endothelial cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of reagents to inhibit the binding of VLA-4 leukocyte cell surface receptors to brain endothelial adhesion molecules. Also provided are compositions and methods for treating brain inflammation. A method of inducing brain inflammation as well as an assay for testing anti-inflammatory agents is also provided.