Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for a combination therapy with a cytokine antagonist and a corticosteroid. By means of the combination therapy diseases such as osteoarthritis, tendon injuries and/or degenerative spinal diseases can be treated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially purified growth differentiation factor (GDF) receptor, including a GDF-8 (myostatin) receptor, as well as functional peptide portions thereof. In addition, the invention provides a virtual representation of a GDF receptor or a functional peptide portion thereof. The present invention also provides a method of modulating an effect of myostatin on a cell by contacting the cell with an agent that affects myostatin signal transduction in the cell. In addition, the invention provides a method of ameliorating the severity of a pathologic condition, which is characterized, at least in part, by an abnormal amount, development or metabolic activity of muscle or adipose tissue in a subject, by modulating myostatin signal transduction in a muscle cell or an adipose tissue cell in the subject.

Abstract: Provided are nanoparticles comprising heparin, chitosan, and at least one immunomodulatory agent, e.g. a cytokine. The cytokine can be selected from the group consisting of TNF, IL-12, IL-2, IL-23, IL-1?, IL-10, IL-18, and combinations thereof. Further provided are methods of making a nanoparticle comprising mixing a first composition comprising heparin with a second composition comprising chitosan in the presence of at least one cytokine to form a third composition. Further provided are methods of modulating an immune response comprising co-administering to a subject an antigen or vaccine with nanoparticles comprising heparin, chitosan, and at least one cytokine.

Abstract: A method for reducing phosphate absorption in a human or non-human animal subject at risk of developing or having developed hyperphosphatemia is disclosed. The method includes the step of administering orally to the subject an anti-intestinal sodium phosphate cotransporter type 2B (Npt2B) antibody in an amount effective to reduce or maintain the serum phosphate concentration in the subject.

Abstract: The use of an IL-3 inhibitor for prophylactic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in an early stage, during early phases of exacerbation, or as maintenance therapy to prevent disease flares or disease progression in a subject is described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to zcytor17lig polynucleotide, polypeptide and anti-zcytor17 antibody molecules. The zcytor17lig is a novel cytokine. The polypeptides may be used within methods for stimulating the immune system, and proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo. The present invention also includes methods for producing the protein, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.

Abstract: The present inventors focused on the fact that inflammation at the subretinal macular area enhances choroidal neovascularization, and developed pharmaceutical agents that suppress initiation or advancement of neovascularization by angiogenic factors such as VEGF. More specifically, the present inventors revealed that administering anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibodies to mice treated with laser photocoagulation inhibits the development of choroidal neovascularization.

Abstract: Providing a new method of treating inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders and a food product for the prevention or improvement of inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders. Prevention or treatment of inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders is possible by oral administration of recombinant IL-10 expressed in rice plant seeds.

Abstract: A method for treating a subject afflicted with an autoimmune disease with a pharmaceutical composition comprising glatiramer acetate and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, comprising the steps of administering a therapeutic amount of the pharmaceutical composition to the subject, determining whether the subject is a glatiramer acetate responder or a glatiramer acetate hypo-/non-responder by measuring the value of a biomarker selected from the group consisting of IL-10 concentration, IL-17 concentration, IL-18 concentration, TNF-? concentration, BDNF concentration, caspase-1 concentration, IL-10/IL-18 ratio and IL-10/IL-17 ratio in the blood of the subject, and comparing the measured value to a reference value for the biomarker to identify the subject as a glatiramer acetate responder or a glatiramer acetate hypo-/non-responder, and continuing the administration if the subject is identified as a glatiramer acetate responder, or modifying treatment of the subject if the subject is identified as a glatiramer

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated TANGO 228 nucleic acid molecules, which encode secreted proteins with homology to the rat MCA-32 protein, isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated TANGO 240 nucleic acid molecules, which encode secreted proteins with homology to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis hypothetical protein Rv0712, and isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated TANGO 243 nucleic acid molecules, which encode proteins with homology to human PLAP (phospholipase A2-activating protein). 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.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide methods for producing dendritic cells (DCs), which comprise the step of culturing DC precursor cells in the presence of a plurality of cytokines, produced dendritic cells, and uses thereof. The present inventors discovered that dendritic cells with a high IL-12 productivity can be obtained by culturing DC precursor cells in the presence of a plurality of cytokines, followed by about one week of culture in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4. The present invention enables preparation of a large amount of DCs with a high IL-12 productivity from a small number of DC precursor cells, and therefore makes it easier to increase the number of DCs for administration in DC-based anti-tumor immune therapy, treatment of infections, etc. Thus, the effect of DC vaccines is expected to be enhanced.

Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated antigen binding protein, such as but not limited to, an antibody or antibody fragment. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments comprising the antigen binding protein, isolated nucleic acid encoding it, vectors, host cells, and hybridomas useful in methods of making it. In some embodiments the antigen binding protein comprises one to twenty-four pharmacologically active chemical moieties conjugated thereto, such as a pharmacologically active polypeptide.

Abstract: Provided herein are chimeric nucleic acid sequences encoding chimeric polypeptides. Also provided herein are chimeric polypeptides. Further provided herein are methods of treating a subject with or at risk of developing a cancer. The methods comprise selecting a subject with or at risk of developing a cancer, and administering to the subject an effective amount of the chimeric polypeptides provided herein.

Abstract: Antigen binding proteins that bind to human IL-23 protein are provided. Nucleic acids encoding the antigen binding protein, vectors, and cells encoding the same as well as use of IL-23 antigen binding proteins for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides for biopolymer conjugates of an IL-11 analog (mIL-11) and a biocompatible polymer. The mIL-11 of the invention displays an enhanced resistance to acidolysis and shows increased stability as compared to rhIL-11. The conjugates of the present invention are characterized by a longer serum half-life and exhibit essentially no loss of activity as compared to the corresponding unconjugated mIL-11.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of interleukin-6 (IL-6) related diseases, comprising an interleukin-6 antagonist (IL-6 antagonist) and immunosuppressants. The IL-6 antagonist is preferably an antibody to an interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R).

Abstract: Isolated anti-IL-12 antibodies, nucleic acids encoding antibodies or antibody portions, vectors, host cells, and methods of making are useful for production of antibody or portions for treating and/or diagnosing IL-12 related conditions, diseases, and disorders, such as Crohn's disease.

Abstract: Isolated peptides composed of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 33 or fragments thereof that bind to HLA antigens and have cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) inducibility and thus are suitable for use in the context of cancer immunotherapy, more particularly cancer vaccines are described herein. The present invention further provides peptides that include one, two, or several amino acid insertions, substitutions or additions to the aforementioned peptides or fragments, but yet retain the requisite cytotoxic T cell inducibility. Further provided are nucleic acids encoding any of these aforementioned peptides as well as pharmaceutical agents, substances and compositions including any of the aforementioned peptides or nucleic acids. The peptides, nucleic acids, pharmaceutical agents, substances and compositions of this invention find particular utility in the treatment of cancers and tumors.

Abstract: Uses of recombinant procalcitonin 3-116 in the diagnosis and therapy of septic diseases and the measurement of prohormones other than procalcitonin, and of dipeptidyl peptidase IV, as biomarkers in the diagnosis of sepsis.

Abstract: A method for treating or preventing a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease is provided herein, the method including administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of soluble CD137 or CD137pos regulatory T cells. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions for treating or preventing T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, the pharmaceutical compositions including a therapeutically effective amount of soluble CD137 or CD137pos regulatory T cells and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.