Abstract: The present invention provides a method of immune/gene combination therapy that has an effect of suppressing growth of an intractable solid tumor and is useful for treatment of such a tumor, and a therapeutic composition used for said method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to viral interleukin-6 (v-IL-6), which can be obtained by recombinant expression of the DNA of human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8), and which may be used in diagnosis and treatment of human diseases such as kaposi sarcoma, Castleman's disease, multiple myeloma, kidney cell carcinoma, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis or B cell lymphoma.

Abstract: Recombinant nucleic acid molecules are constructed with a first sequence encoding a transgene under the control of regulatory sequences that direct expression of the transgene product in a hematopoietic stem cell, or a progenitor cell therefrom or cell differentiated therefrom. In one embodiment, the cell which expresses the transgene is a secretory cell. The cell is a megakaryotic progenitor cell, or a cell further differentiated therefrom, such as a platelet. The cell is a granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cell or a cell further differentiated therefrom, such as a mast cell or neutrophils. Such host cells containing the molecule or the molecule itself are employed in methods for treating or preventing infection, inflammation or vascular injuries or any disorders involving or mediated by cells of the hematopoietic lineage.

Abstract: In general, the invention features genetically modified non-human mammals (e.g., bovines and other ungulates), and methods of making these mammals. In particular, the invention features transgenic ungulates having reduced levels of endogenous IgM heavy chain and/or prion protein.

Abstract: Novel calcium-independent phospholipases A2; genes encoding the same; an antibody against them; an inherent promoter or a regulator gene which comprises a base sequence occurring in intron and inducing site-specific expression in response to an external stimulus; a method of expressing a target protein in response to an external stimulus; and an organism having this gene transferred thereinto. Novel calcium-independent phospholipases A2 having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5 or an amino acid sequence derived from such an amino acid sequence by the substitution, deletion or addition of one or more amino acids; a gene having a base sequence occurring in an intron and being capable of initiating RNA transcription due to an external stimulus such as a stimulus with kainic acid or an electrical stimulus; a method of regulating expression by using the gene; and an organism having the gene transferred thereinto.

Abstract: The present invention provides muscle-derived cells, preferably myoblasts and muscle-derived stem cells, genetically engineered to contain and express one or more heterologous genes or functional segments of such genes, for delivery of the encoded gene products at or near sites of musculoskeletal, bone, ligament, meniscus, cartilage or genitourinary disease, injury, defect, or dysfunction. Ex vivo myoblast mediated gene delivery of human inducible nitric oxide synthase, and the resulting production of nitric oxide at and around the site of injury, are particularly provided by the invention as a treatment for lower genitourinary tract dysfunctions.

Abstract: Interleukin-18 binding proteins which are capable of binding IL-18 and/or modulating and/or blocking IL-18 activity are provided. Methods for their isolation and recombinant production, DNAs encoding them, DNA vectors expressing them, vecotors useful for their expression in humans and other mammals, antibodies against them are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is substantially pure DNA encoding mammalian IAP polypeptides; and methods of using such DNA to express the IAP polypeptides in cells and animals to inhibit apoptosis. Also disclosed are conserved regions characteristic of the IAP family and primer and probes for the identification and isolation of additional IAP genes. In addition, methods for treating diseases and disorders involving apoptosis are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of diagnosing diseases and conditions associated with PKC?, methods for identifying compounds that can be used to treat or to prevent such diseases and conditions, and methods of using these compounds to treat or to prevent such diseases and conditions. Also provided in the invention are animal model systems that can be used in screening methods.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing decreased vascular function is disclosed. The method includes assaying the number of endothelial progenitor cells. A method for detecting increased cardiovascular risk is also disclosed, as is a method for diagnosing atherosclerosis. In one example, the methods include assaying the number of endothelial progenitor cells. A method for treating a subject with decreased vascular function is disclosed. The method includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of endothelial progenitor cells to the subject. In one embodiment, the subject has atherosclerosis.

Abstract: An embryo that is transferred into the uterus of a recipient female is protected from embryotoxic effects of prostaglandin F2? by exposing the embryo to a prostaglandin antagonist.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to viral vaccines and, more particularly, to filovirus vaccines and methods of eliciting an immune response against a filovirus or disease caused by infection with filovirus.

Abstract: Insulin resistance is a central feature of type II diabetes and other diseases, and may affect every tissue of the body, including the pancreatic beta cell. Insulin signaling is mediated by a complex network of diverging and converging pathways, with alternative proteins and isoforms at almost every step in the process. We have previously shown that insulin activates the transcription of its own gene by signaling through Insulin Receptor A type (Ex11?), PI3 kinase and p70 s6 kinase. When studying the mechanisms underlying the glucose-stimulated activation of the glucokinase gene in pancreatic beta cells, we now demonstrate that also here secreted insulin is a key-factor. In contrast to the insulin gene, transcription of the glucokinase gene is promoted by signaling via Insulin Receptor B type (Ex11+) and protein kinase B (c-Akt).

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of substances as a fundamental constituent in wound healing agents. The invention is characterised in that said substances bond to either IAP and/or integrin ?v?3 and/or thrombuspondin-1 in such a way that the bond between thrumbospondin-1 and IAP and/or integrin ?v?3 is inhibited.

Abstract: The invention concerns a polypeptide having a uracil phosphoribosyl transferase (UPRTase) by mutation of one or several residues of the UPRTase. The invention also concerns a nucleotide sequence coding for the UPRTase mutant, a vector for expressing the latter, a viral particle, a host cell, and a composition containing them. The invention further concerns their therapeutic use and a treatment method using them. The invention is particularly useful in the context of therapy by suicide genes, in particular, for treating proliferative and infectious diseases.

Abstract: To provide a technique of the differentiation from a primate embryonic stem cell into a vascular cell, and techniques using the same. A method for differentiating a primate embryonic stem cell into a vascular cell, comprising differentiating a primate embryonic stem cell into a VEGFR-2-positive and undifferentiated primate embryonic stem cell marker-negative cell, and if need, further differentiating the resulting cell, a method of the differentiation into a vascular cell, and a vascular cell obtained by the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates, e.g., to a method for inducing arteriogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, vasculogenesis, or cardiomyogenesis, and/or for inducing mitosis or proliferation of a smooth muscle cell, a skeletal muscle cell, or a cardiomyocyte, comprising administering to a cell or tissue in need thereof a dose of a polynucleotide that encodes a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), or that encodes a polypeptide comprising an active site of the VEGF. The coding sequence is operably linked to an expression control sequence; and the dose is sufficient to induce arteriogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, vasculogenesis, or cardiomyogenesis, and/or to induce mitosis or proliferation of a smooth muscle cell, a skeletal muscle cell, or a cardiomyocyte. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the method is a method of tissue regeneration, particularly of cardiomyogenesis; and the polynucleotide (or a polypeptide encoded by such a polynucleotide) is administered into the myocardium.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of treating or preventing a disease in an animal associated with one or more self-protein(s), -polypeptide(s), or -peptide(s) that is present or involved in a non-physiologic process in the animal comprising administering to the animal a self-vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding the self-protein(s), -polypeptide(s) or -peptide(s) associated with the disease. Administration of the self-vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding the self-protein(s), -polypeptide(s) or -peptide(s) modulates an immune response to the self-protein(s), -polypeptide(s) or -peptide(s) expressed from administration of the self-vector.

Abstract: This invention provides eggs which contain exogenous proteins. The invention further provides transgenic chickens which express exogenous sequences in their oviducts, and vectors and methods for the stable introduction of exogenous nucleic acid sequences into the genome of a bird for expressing said exogenous sequences to alter the phenotype of the bird or to produce desired proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retroviral vector containing a membrane protein having a hemagglutinin activity. The present inventors constructed a retroviral vector pseudotyped by the membrane protein having a hemagglutinin activity. This viral vector showed gene transfer at a high efficiency into host cells. In particular, it was established that genes can be transferred thereby at a high efficiency into cells into which genes can hardly be transferred by the conventional techniques, for example, blood cells and hematopoietic cells including hematopoietic stem cells, and mucous cells including mucosa epithelial cells. The viral vector of the present invention is highly useful as a vector for gene therapy.