Abstract: An antigen-containing formulation is provided, comprising: (a) an antigen; (b) a TH1-inducing adjuvants; and (c) a sparingly soluble amino acid or a derivative thereof. The adjuvants may be, for example, monophosphoryl lipid A, 3′-de-O-acetylated monophosphoryl lipid A, derivatives thereof, or any other adjuvants that enhances an individual's TH response to the antigen. Suitable amino acids include tyrosine, tryptophan, derivatives thereof, and the like. Methods for using the formulation are also provided; in a particularly preferred embodiment, the formulation is used as a vaccine.

Abstract: A method for promoting bone growth in a patient (e.g., a mammal such as a human) said method including the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of adrenomedullin or an adrenomedullin agonist to said patient.

Abstract: Compounds having immunomodulatory activity which are peptide-type compounds, or variants or fragments thereof, including the N-terminal acylated and C-terminal amidated or esterified forms of up to 30 amino acids wherein the peptide-type compound comprises the formula: (a) R aa76-77 L aa79-84 or (b) aa84-79 L aa77-76 R wherein: aa76 is E or V; aa77 is D, S or N; aa79 is R or G; aa80 is I or N; aa81 is a small or hydrophobic amino acid aa82 is R or L; aa83 is G or R; aa84 is a small or hydrophobic amino acid; wherein, in said compounds, at least one of the amino acids is the D isomer are used by themselves or in combination with immunosuppressant drugs, to reduce CTL activation, particularly in association with transplantation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of inhibiting a neoplasm in a mammal, the method includes administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein.

Abstract: Peptides capable of binding to bone marrow stromal cell antigen-1 (BST-1), and peptides capable of binding to BST-1 and inhibiting ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity and cADP-ribose hydrolase activity thereof are provided. The peptides are useful for treating rheumatoid arthritis and multiple myeloma.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of preventing or reducing the severity of psoriasis. In one embodiment, the method involves administering to the individual a peptide having substantially the sequence of a non-conserved region sequence of a T cell receptor, present on the surface of T cells mediating psoriasis or a fragment thereof, wherein the peptide or fragment is capable of causing an effect on the immune system to regulate the T cells. In particular, the T cell receptor has the V&bgr; region-V&bgr;3, V&bgr;13.1 or V&bgr;17. In another embodiment, the method involves gene therapy. The invention also relates to methods of diagnosing psoriasis by determining the presence of psoriasis predominant T cell receptors.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods of inducing immune response in patients. In particular, it provides compositions useful in inducing humoral resposes against desired immunogens, particularly polysaccharides.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions useful in the treatment of autoimmune conditions include as an active ingredient a soluble lectin having a molecular weight of about 14 kilodaltons or a fragment thereof. The lectin or fragment binds &bgr;-galactoside-containing moieties independent of the presence or absence of Ca+2, stimulates hemagglutination of trypsinized rabbit erythrocytes in standard lectin assays wherein the stimulation is inhibited by lactose or thiogalactoside, has an amino acid sequence containing at least one N-glycosylation site and is at least 90% homologous to the amino acid sequence shown in positions 2-135 of FIG. 1 or the relevant portions thereof. The composition is used for treatment of autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, and multiple sclerosis, as well as modulating the immune response in an allergic reactions or to organ or tissue transplant rejection. The inventive composition can be combined with general immunosuppressants.

Abstract: Methods for mediating immune coagulation using novel antibodies and compounds are described. A protein Fgl2 having direct prothrombinase activity has been identified. Inhibitors of Fgl2 are useful in preventing and treating diseases which require a reduction in immune coagulation including bacterial and viral infections, allograft and xenograft rejection, glomerulonephritis, cancer, a number of gastrointestinal diseases and fetal loss.

Abstract: The method and compositions of this invention provide an effective and reliable substitute for the currently employed ICA assay for diabetes. By providing a method for detecting autoantibodies to both GAD65 and IA-2 auto-antigens, the method provides a chemical assay which has improved reliability. In addition, these antigens may be employed in therapeutic regimens aimed at achieving immune tolerance and therefore amelioration of the clinical condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides reagents and assays for the quantification of hBNP in biological fluid samples such as plasma or serum. Antibodies are provided which are monospecific to epitopes comprising the amino acid sequences 5-13, 1-10 and 15-25 of hBNP. These antibodies, and peptide fragments containing these sequences, can be employed in the assays of the invention, which may be carried out in a sandwich format or a competition format.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating or identifying subjects having a neurological disease or at risk for a neurological disease by determining the presence of a variant GPIIIa and/or GPIIb allele.

Abstract: The transcription factor E2F contains a ubiquitination domain. Assays for inhibitors and enhancers of the domain are provided. An assay method for an inhibitor of transcription factor E2F ubiquitin-mediated degradation comprises a) bringing a polypeptide which contains a domain which renders E2F a substrate for ubiquitination into contact with a candidate inhibitor; and b) determining whether or not the candidate inibitor is capable of reducing ubiquitination of the polypeptide. An assay method for an enhancer of transcription factor E2F ubiquitin-mediated degradation may comprise a) bringing a polypeptide which contains a domain which renders E2F a substrate for ubiquitination into contact with a candidate enhancer; and b) determining whether or not the candidate enhancer is capable of enhancing ubiquitination of said polypeptide.

Abstract: Materials and methods of activating T lymphocytes with specificity for particular antigenic peptides are described, as well as the use of activated T lymphocytes in vitro for the treatment of a variety of disease conditions. In particular, a method for producing a synthetic antigen presenting drosophila cell line for activating T lymphocytes to a specific peptide is described.

Abstract: Allograft rejection is initiated by an immune response to donor major histocompatibility complex proteins. After allogeneic heart transplantation, de novo CD4+ T cell and B cell autoimmune responses to contractile proteins of cardiac muscle, e.g. cardiac myosin (CM), are elicited. The transplantation induced autoimmune response to cardiac myosin plays an significant role in cardiac transplant rejection. Methods are provided for diagnosis and therapy of graft rejection.

Abstract: Two kinds of antibody antagonists of the binding of human IL-4 to cellular receptors are provided by this invention. Some of the antagonists bind to specific regions of IL-4 which are believed to be involved in interactions between IL-4 and its receptors. Because of this specific binding by the antibodies to the IL-4, the binding of the IL-4 to the receptors is substantially inhibited. The other antibody antagonists of the invention are anti-idiotypic antibodies which, while lacking IL-4 activity, appear to mimic IL-4 and to compete directly with it for binding to the cellular receptors. Polypeptides used to make the antibody antagonists are also provided, together with methods for using the antagonists to inhibit the binding of IL-4 to its cellular receptors.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of treating psoriasis which entail eliciting an immune response in an individual against an antigen aberrantly expressed in psoriatic tissue, such as a ganglioside, in an individual. The anti-ganglioside immune response is elicited by administration of an antigen such as a ganglioside, an anti-idiotype moiety for a ganglioside, or a polynucleotide encoding an anti-idiotype moiety. Also described is a strategy for developing additional compositions for psoriasis. The compositions elicit an immunological response against a target antigen present on psoriatic tissue, which in turn can be detected using antibody affinity-purified from the serum of the treated subject. The presence of the immunological response correlates positively with control or resolution of the psoriatic symptoms.

Abstract: Saponin preparations based on defined compositions of purified saponin fractions derived from the bark of Quillaja saponaria Molina are disclosed. The saponin preparations are useful in immunostimulating complex (iscom) matrices. The saponin preparations, and iscom matrices prepared using them, have particular activity as adjuvants.

Abstract: Since glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is the most potent insulinotropic hormone known and has been shown to stimulate insulin secretion strongly in patients with type II diabetes, this invention uses GLP-1 or its biologically active analogues in &bgr;-cell stimulatory tests in order to test &bgr;-cell function in a simple way. The test provides information about insulin secretory capacity, is easy and reproducible and has insignificant side effects.

Abstract: IGF-I or an analogue thereof is administered to delay the clinical onset of diabetes, to reduce the occurrence of beta cell destruction in a subject having a high risk of developing diabetes, to provide a regulating effect on spleen T cells in a subject having a high risk of developing diabetes, or to reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of clinical diabetes in a subject having a high risk of developing diabetes.