Abstract: Disclosed are a crosslinked gelatin microspheres containing CSF and a water soluble CSF-gelatin conjugate. Both the microspheres and the water soluble conjugate provide an improved CSF stability. They have a high potentiation on the antitumor activity of macrophages in respect of the CSF amount and the time required for macrophage activation and are effective in maintaining their activated state for a long period, compared with the native CSF. The mechanism of macrophage activation by the microspheres containing CSF is mediated via phagocytosis and different from that by native CSF, which is believed to activate macrophages via cell surface receptor. The species specificity of CSF may be abrogated when the CSF is internalized into macrophages through phagocytosis.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a DNA sequence containing a segment coding for endothelin-2 or human endothelin-3, (2) a precursor protein and a mature peptide of endothelin-2 or human endothelin-3, (3) a transformant carrying a DNA sequence containing a DNA segment coding for endothelin-2 or human endothelin-3 and (4) a method for preparing mature endothelin-2 or endothelin-3 which comprises culturing the transformant described in (3), producing and accumulating a protein in a culture medium, and collecting the same.Cells transfected or transformed with the DNA allow large amounts of endothelin-2 or endothelin-3 to be produced, which causes the advantageous production of endothelin-2 or endothelin-3.Endothelin-2 and endothelin-3 can be utilized as hypotension therapeutic agents or local vasoconstrictors to animals including humans.

Abstract: The invention relates to large latent complexes of TGF-.beta.2 and TGF-.beta.3, and methods for Isolating these. The complex consists of a dimerized form of TGF-.beta.2 or TGF-.beta.3, the appropriate latency associated peptide, and the latent TGF-.beta.1 binding protein, referred to as LTBP. Also described is a protein which binds to all of TGF-.beta.1, TGF-.beta.2 and TGF-.beta.3, but is immunologically distinct from LTBP, referred to as LTBP-2.

Abstract: An intact human immune interferon protein and a method for the extraction and purification of intact recombinant human immune interferon is disclosed. This method permits the purification to homogenity of intact recombinant human immune interferon.

Abstract: Novel platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) analogs are provided in accordance with the present invention. Also provided is a method for the production of homogeneous quantities of these novel analogs. The novel analogs of the present invention, when refolded, have substantially the same biological activity as naturally occurring PDGF B.sub.109. The method of the present invention employs the use of a stop codon on the c-sis gene, or other coding sequence for a precursor protein of PDGF B.sub.109, or analogs thereof, at a position corresponding to a location from about amino acid 111 to about amino acid 160. The method of the present invention results in the production of relatively large homogeneous quantities of recombinant PDGF B analogs from high expression host cells, such as E. coli.

Abstract: Described are new glycoprotein hormones capable of competing with natural hormones for the normal receptor binding sites but substantially incapable of effecting post receptor activities. The glycoprotein hormones of the present invention have had specific (rather than all) oligosaccharide chains removed so as to effectively diminish biologic activity while not significantly reducing plasma half-life, thus improving the molecules effectiveness as an antagonist compared with conventionally-produced molecules. The preferred glycoprotein hormones are ideally obtained by site-directed mutagenesis to selectively deglycosylate the protein. Also described are therapeutic treatments comprising the administration of the recombinant glycoprotein hormones of the present invention as hormone antagonists.

Abstract: The proteins of the present invention include central nervous system myelin associated proteins and metalloproteases associated with glioblastoma cells and other malignant tumors which can metastasize to the brain. The CNS myelin associated proteins inhibit neurite outgrowth in nerve cells and neuroblastoma cells, and can also inhibit fibroblast spreading. Such inhibitory proteins include a 35,000 dalton and a 250,000 dalton molecular weight protein. The CNS myelin associated inhibitory proteins may be used in the treatment of malignant tumors. Antibodies to the CNS myelin associated proteins can be used in the diagnosis and therapies of nerve damage. Monoclonal antibody IN-1 may be used to promote regeneration of nerve fibers over long distances in spinal cord lesions. The metalloproteases of the invention have value in diagnosis of malignancies and the treatment of nerve damage and degenerative disorders of the nervous system.

Abstract: Glycopeptides of human cytomegalovirus have been isolated and purified. These glycopeptides and antibodies reactive with them are useful in diagnosis and therapy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a family of materials useful for removing immune complexes from blood preferentially to soluble antibodies. The material comprises analogs of proteins which bind to the Fc region of immunoglobulin. The analogs are produced by truncating or otherwise altering the amino acid sequence of the binding protein to reduce their affinity for Fc. An array of such analogs disposed about the surface of an insoluble matrix has the ability to form multiple points of attachment to the multiple Fc's in a complex so as to bind complex strongly, whereas only weak associations are developed between the Fc region of soluble IgG and individual analogs. The preferred analogs are truncated proteins homologous to a portion of the domains of Protein A or Protein G which bind with Fc. Complex may be removed from whole blood or serum using the material and conventional plasmapheresis techniques.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions containing the polypeptides BUF-3, BUF-4 and BUF-5 have hypoglycemic activity. BUF-3 is a homodimer of monomer A shown in FIG. 1. The monomer has a molecular weight of 16.+-.1 kd. BUF-4 is a heterodimer of monomer A and monomer B (FIG. 2). These products can be produced by cell culture of malignant leukemia cells or by recombinant DNA engineering.

Abstract: Proteins which specifically inhibit coagulation Factor Xa. The inhibitors, which do not inhibit Factor VIIa, kallikrein, trypsin, chymotrypsin, thrombin, urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator, plasmin, elastase, Factor XIa or S. aureus V8 protease, are polypeptides of 60 amino acid residues. The inhibitors may be purified from Ornithodoros moubata extract, synthesized, or produced using a recombinant DNA yeast expression system.