Abstract: A novel agent is for treating or preventing a glioma. A marker for malignancy of a brain tumor and a prognostic marker for a brain tumor can be used in a method for determining malignancy of a brain tumor and a method for determining a prognosis for a brain tumor patient. The agent for treating or preventing a glioma can include an HVEM inhibitor as an active ingredient. The marker for malignancy of a brain tumor and the prognostic marker for a brain tumor can each include an HVEM protein or an HVEM gene. The method for determining malignancy of a brain tumor and the method for determining a prognosis for a brain tumor patient can each include measuring an HVEM expression amount in a biological sample of a subject.

Abstract: DNA encoding two forms of PDGF A-chain polypeptide, the construction of expression vectors for expressing such DNA in yeast and mammalian cells, and the expression of such DNA in yeast and mammalian cells to produce active PDGF A-chain homodimer and active PDGF A-chain/B-chain heterodimer are disclosed.

Abstract: DNA encoding two forms of PDGF A-chain polypeptide, the construction of expression vectors for expressing such DNA in yeast and mammalian cells, and the expression of such DNA in yeast and mammalian cells to produce active PDGF A-chain homodimer and active PDGF A-chain/B-chain heterodimer are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention describes antagonists for PDGF. The antagonists contain amino acids, and may be monomers or dimers. Especially preferred are dimers which bind the PDGF receptors, but prevent dimerization of the bound receptors. Dimerization is necessary for PDGF effect, hence the antagonistic effect. Also described are nucleic acid sequences for making the antagonists, as well as cell lines transfected with the material.

Abstract: The invention described PDGF modifiers. These are peptides which are derived from wild type PDGF monomers, and function as either agonists or antagonists. Various uses of these are described, as well as recombinant means of production. PDGF-B agonists comprising amino acids 97-180 of the PDGF-B monomer having the cysteines at amino acid residues 124 and 133 substituted, nucleic acid molecules encoding the agonists, plasmids, transformed host cells, and methods for causing receptor dimerization and autophosphorylation in a cell having PDGF-.beta. receptors on its surface comprising administering the PDGF-B agonist form part of the invention.

Abstract: DNA encoding two forms of PDGF A-chain polypeptide, the construction of expression vectors for expressing such DNA in yeast and mammalian cells, and the expression of such DNA in yeast and mammalian cells to produce active PDGF A-chain homodimer and active PDGF A-chain/B-chain heterodimer are disclosed.

Abstract: A platelet lysate is produced from plasma derived from animal whole blood that contains an added citrate to prevent coagulation of the blood during storage. The lysate is prepared by centrifuging plasma to produce a platelet rich paste, adding calcium to the paste to lyse the platelets therein and coagulate fibrinogen to produce a clear liquid containing lysed platelets, sterile filtering the liquid and collecting a liquid filtrate containing the lysed platelets. The obtained lysate of platelets can be used to wholly or partly replace foetal calf serum in cell culture, such as in culture of hybridoma cells for preparing monoclonal antibodies.