Abstract: D type CpG oligodeoxynucleotides are provided herein that include a sequence represented by the following formula: 5?X1X2X3Pu1 Py2 CpG Pu3 Py4 X4X5X6(W)M(G)N-3? wherein the central CpG motif is unmethylated, Pu is a purine nucleotide, Py is a pyrimidine nucleotide, X and W are any nucleotide, M is any integer from 0 to 10, and N is any integer from 4 to 10. Methods of using these oligodeoxynucleotides to induce an immune response are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a human tumor suppressor protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; a polynucleotide encoding the tumor suppressor protein; an expression vector containing the polynucleotide; a microorganism or animal cell transformed with the expression vector; a method for suppressing proliferation of a cancer cell which comprises introducing the expression vector into a cancer cell to induce apoptosis thereof; and a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cancer which comprises a therapeutically effective amount of the polynucleotide and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Methods of treating patients who are suffering from a disease, disorder or condition characterized by a bone cartilage or lung defect are disclosed. The methods comprising the step of intravenous administration of stromal cells isolated from normal syngeneic individuals or intravenous administration of stromal cells isolated from the patient subsequent to correction of the genetic defect in the isolated cells. Implant devices comprising a container that has at least one membrane surface and stromal cells isolated from bone marrow that comprise a gene construct are disclosed. The gene construct in the stromal cells comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes a beneficial protein operably linked to regulatory elements which function in stromal cells. Methods of treating individuals with diseases, disorders or conditions which can be treated with a beneficial protein, including diseases, disorders or conditions characterized by gene defects are disclosed.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that CREB regulates hepatic gluconeogenesis via the co-activator, PGC-1. PGC-1 potentiated glucocorticoid induction of the gene for PEPCK, the rate limiting enzyme in gluconeogenesis, via the glucocorticoid response unit in the promoter, indicating that activation of PGC-1 by CREB in liver contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. In accordance with the above discoveries, the present invention provides a method of identifying a compound that modulates gluconeogenesis. The invention method comprises contacting CREB and a nucleic acid comprising a PGC-1 promoter with a test compound, and determining if the test compound modulates binding between CREB and the PGC-1 promoter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recombinant vector for the cloning and/or expression and/or transfer of an exogenous nucleotide sequence characterized in that it consists of any sequence contained in the ClaI-PvuII fragment comprising nucleotides 7702 to 1527 (SEQ ID NO: 11) of the sequence given in FIGS. 1A-1D and comprising the LTR sequence included between nucleotides 7842 and 144, the PBS site starting at nucleotides 145, the packaging sequence included in the sequences of 250 nucleotides following the end of the LTR sequence, the said sequence being capable of controlling the cloning and/or expression and/or transfer at the exogenous sequence whatever its transcriptional orientation with respect to the transcriptional orientation of the virus. It relates to the use of this vector for the transfer and/or cloning and/or expression of genes, in particular in the context of gene therapy.

Abstract: Compositions for targeting expression of a gene such as an antitumor gene may contain a first nucleic acid construct in which expression of a first gene is controlled by a first promoter whose function is suppressed in non-tumor cells, and a second nucleic acid construct in which expression of a second gene for down-regulating the first gene in non-tumor cells is controlled by a second promoter that is up-regulated in non-tumor cells. The second promoter may be regulated by means of p53 binding, targeting expression of the first gene to cells in which p53 down-regulation of expression is disrupted, e.g. cells in which p53 is mutated. The first promoter may be one which is unregulated in tumor cells, for example the Hsp70 promoter which is upregulated in mutant p53 tumor cells. A suitable antitumor agent in thymidine kinase.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward water-soluble supramolecular self-assemblies and a process for their preparation via micellization of polyelectrolytes through the use of hydrophobic monomeric units. In this invention the polyelectrolyte segment ultimately forms the core of the supramolecular assembly whereas the shell consists of uncharged hydrophilic polymers or oligomers. It has been determined that the inclusion of the hydrophobic co-monomers to the polyelectrolyte segment forming the micelle core leads to a structure of enhanced stability.

Abstract: The present invention provides prophylactic and therapeutic methods of treating the ductal epithelium of an exocrine gland, in particular a mammary gland, for disease, in particular cancer. The methods comprise contacting the ductal epithelium of the exocrine gland with an epithelium-destroying gent, preferably by ductal cannulation, so as to realize a prophylactic or therapeutic effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating infectious diseases and genetic disorders through gene therapy and intracellular delivery of antisense oligonucleotides or other nucleic acid sequences. In particular, compositions and methods using biologically active nononic reverse block copolymers are described. The reverse copolymers have an inner core of polyoxyethylene (POE) that is flanked on either end by polyoxpropylene (POP). The reverse block copolymers have the following formula: wherein “b” represents a number such that the molecular weight of the hydrophobe (C3H6O)b is between approximately 750 and 20,000 Daltons and “a” represents a number such that the percentage of hydrophile (C2H4O)a is between approximately 1% and 90% of the weight of the block copolymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acids which encode insect acetylcholine receptor subunits, to the corresponding polypeptides, and to processes for discovering novel active compounds for plant protection.

Abstract: Encapsulated producer cells which are capable of expressing a molecule which is an inhibitor of CNS tumour growth provide a novel approach to the treatment of tumours, such as brain tumors which are localized within the central nervous system.

Abstract: The invention concerns the identification and characterization of the SPG4 gene encoding spastin, and some mutations thereof responsible for the most frequent form of autosomal dominant familial spastic paraplegia, to the cloning and characterization of its cDNA and the corresponding polypeptides. The invention also concerns vectors, transformed cells and transgenic animals as well as diagnostic methods and kits, and methods for selecting a chemical or biological compound capable of directly or indirectly interacting with said polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention provides a therapeutic composition for epithelial wound repair that is a combination of PDGF and KGF. Further, the invention provides a composition for epithelial wound repair that is a therapeutic combination of PDGF, KGF, and IGF. Additionally, the invention provides a therapeutic composition of PDGF, KGF, IGF and IGFBP for epithelial wound repair.

Abstract: Camptothecin drugs are stabilized in their antitumor active lactone form by complexation with an oligonucleotide including RNA or catalytic RNA. The oligonucleotide-camptothecin drug complex may be incorporated within a macromolecular assembly including both viral and non-viral oligonucleotide vectors. The invention allows combination gene and camptothecin drug therapy.

Abstract: Materials and Methods for treating fibrosis in a mammal are disclosed. The methods comprise administering to a mammal a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a zvegf3 antagonist in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle. Zvegf3 antagonists include anti-zvegf3 antibodies, mitogenically inactive receptor-binding zvegf3 variant polypeptides, and inhibitory polynucleotides. Within one embodiment of the fibrosis is liver fibrosis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel composition and methods for altering the proliferation of a cell. Included are wild-type and mutant hKIS polypeptides along with cyclin kinase inhibitors containing mutations that prevent their inhibition with serine/threonine kinases.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of microparticles to protect the pharmaceutical effectiveness of a pharmaceutically active agent. According to one embodiment, a pharmaceutically acceptable suspension is provided that comprises microparticles and a pharmaceutically active agent. This pharmaceutically acceptable suspension is then exposed to a component or condition that is incompatible with the pharmaceutically active agent, such that the microparticles provide a pharmaceutical effectiveness that is greater than it would have been in the absence of the microparticles. Preferably, the microparticles result in a pharmaceutical effectiveness of the pharmaceutically active agent that is at least 10% greater than the pharmaceutical effectiveness of the pharmaceutically active agent would have been in the absence of the micro particles. Polymer microparticles, such as polystyrene microparticles, are one preferred class of microparticles. The microparticles preferably range from 0.

Abstract: Described is the use of magnesium (Mg2+) for the preparation of a therapeutic composition for the introduction of a polynucleotide into a cell in vivo.

Abstract: A substance of interest is contained in nanospheres which are then encapsulated in fusogenic liposomes to prepare transport carriers that allow physiologically active substances, especially those having high molecular weight such as proteins and genes, to be introduced into cells efficiently and which permit the introduced active substance to be released in the cell at controlled rate. The fusogenic liposomes are prepared by conferring the fusogenic capability of Sendai virus to known liposomes.

Abstract: Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of Interferon gamma receptor 2 expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2 are provided.