Abstract: The invention concerns a packaging eukaryotic cell for the production of defective infections viruses carrying a transgene, characterized in that it is deficient in one cell function essential to its growth, in particular in the presence of a selection culture medium, the function being capable of being restored by the expression of an exogenous sequence introduced in the cell: either with a vector carrying transcomplementing functions of packaging cells; or with a vector carrying a transgene, and enabling the selection in a selective medium of cells carrying the said exogenous sequence.

Abstract: Utilization of albumin as a stable plasma transporter with a therapeutic function that is derived from a membrane receptor. The present invention is exemplified by the description of new therapeutic agents that can be used in the treatment of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: hybrid macromolecules composed of albumin derivatives coupled to derivatives of the CD4 receptor having a normal or a higher affinity for the HIV-1 virus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for producing an immune response or reaction, as well as to vaccines, kits, processes, cells and uses thereof. This invention more particularly relates to compositions and methods of using a synthetic viral particle to produce, modify or regulate an immune response in a subject. In a more preferred embodiment, the invention is based, generally, on compositions using synthetic viral particles as an adjuvant and/or vehicle to raise an immune response against selected antigen(s) or epitopes, in particular a cellular and/or a humoral immune response.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fields of biology, genetics and medicine. The invention discloses methods and compositions for treating various diseases using populations or compositions of immunoregulatory T cells. The invention discloses that regulatory T cells may be produced and used to control in vivo various pathological conditions, including diseases associated with abnormal T cell activity. The invention relates to the manufacture of such regulatory T cell compositions as well as to their uses for cell therapy treatment. The invention is particularly suited for controlling graft versus host disease in subjects undergoing transplantation (e.g., bone marrow transplantation).

Abstract: Utilization of albumin as a stable plasma transporter with a therapeutic function that is derived from a membrane receptor. The present invention is exemplified by the description of new therapeutic agents that can be used in the treatment of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: hybrid macromolecules composed of albumin derivatives coupled to derivatives of the CD4 receptor having a normal or a higher affinity for the HIV-1 virus.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods and constructs for producing retroviral particles, in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo. It also concerns the use of said methods and constructs for transferring nucleic acids into cells. More particularly, the invention concerns a composition comprising the whole set of genetic elements required for constituting a retroviral particle, incorporated in one or several recombinant adenoviruses defective for all or part of the regions E1 and E4 at least (adenoviral/retroviral chimeric vectors).

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of replicating or semi-replicating viral construct(s) for the preparation of a composition for gene delivery into cells in vivo, ex vivo or in vitro. The invention also relates to novel retroviral constructs, packaging cells and nucleic acids which can be used in methods of delivering polynucleotides to cells.

Abstract: The invention concerns a packaging eukaryotic cell for the production of defective infections viruses carrying a transgene, characterized in that it is deficient in one cell function essential to its growth, in particular in the presence of a selection culture medium, the said function being capable of being restored by the expression of an exogenous sequence introduced in the cell: either with a vector carrying transcomplementing functions of packaging cells; or with a vector carrying a transgene, and enabling the selection in a selective medium of cells carrying the said exogenous sequence.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for transforming hematopoietic cells, in particular, T lymphocytes. The method involves co-culturing target cells, such as T lymphocytes, with pseudo-viral particles comprising a foreign DNA sequence.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for transforming hematopoietic cells, in particular, T lymphocytes. The method involves co-culturing target cells, such as T lymphocytes, with pseudo-viral particles comprising a foreign DNA sequence.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for expressing a transgene in a target cell or a human or animal cell, characterized in that it consists of a eukaryotic cell established as a line, into which there have been transfected:

Abstract: This invention concerns compositions of chondrocytic cells, notably human ones, and the methods for preparing and using them. More specifically, the invention describes the production of autologous human chondrocyte suspensions, employing recombinant enzymes and/or media that are compatible with pharmaceutical use. The invention also describes methods and compositions for freezing chondrocytes, notably in the absence of DMSO. The chondrocytes which are produced can be used in vivo to restore affected cartilaginous structures, such as in post-traumatic cartilaginous defects or dissecting osteochondrite of the knee or, more generally, for treating and repairing clinically significant defects in cartilage, notably in joint cartilage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the expression of nucleic acids or polypeptides into mature T lymphocytes. The invention relates more specifically to methods of selective gene expression into mature T lymphocytes, based on CD4-derived regulatory sequences, such as CD4-derived enhancer sequences. The invention is particularly suited for regulating gene expression into mature T lymphocytes in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo, upon genetic modification of hematopoietic precursors and maturation thereof.

Abstract: Utilization of albumin as a stable plasma transporter with a therapeutic function that is derived from a membrane receptor. The present invention is exemplified by the description of new therapeutic agents that can be used in the treatment of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: hybrid macromolecules composed of albumin derivatives coupled to derivatives of the CD4 receptor having a normal or a higher affinity for the HIV-1 virus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vaccine consisting of defective viral particles as are obtained in vivo or ex vivo, in individuals infected or capable of being infected with a virus, after expression of the genes carried by a vector or a combination of vectors and comprising at least the structural genes necessary for the constitution of the viral particle.

Abstract: Composition for use in the treatment of tumors and the immunization of humans or animals comprising a synergistic association of cells, viruses, or bacteria expressing, transitorily, in organisms at least one gene for producing in vivo one or more immunomodulators, and viruses, or cells producing viruses, said viruses preferably infecting dividing cells of the treated organisms and carrying within their genome at least one gene whose expression in the dividing cells will cause their destruction.

Abstract: A cell, particularly a hematopoietic cell population wherein the cells are trapped with respect to activation by an antigen to which the immune system of the host; (human or animal) is to be made tolerant. The cells contain a genetic sequence of which the expression product (e.g. HSV1--TK--) may, when its production is increased so that it is present in a sufficient quantity within said trapped cells, react in situ with a pharmaceutically active substance (e.g. acyclovir) to induce the destruction of the cells and of means (e.g. a promoter of an interleukin receptor controlling the expression of said genetic sequence) which are specifically induced by an activation signal provided by the antigen to the cells, to cause the aforesaid increased production. The production of drugs implementing the above mentioned principles in order to prevent host immune system dysfunctions which are natural (autoimmune diseases) or induced (grafts), is also described.

Abstract: A recombinant vector comprising a gene encoding a Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK) comprising a deletion in the 5' sequence upstream of the second ATG initiation codon of the complete HSV1-TK sufficient to inhibit transcription initiation from a cryptic promoter site contained within the 5' sequence, wherein the gene is under the control of a promoter is disclosed for use as a suicide gene both in vitro and in vivo. The HSV1-TK produced by the strong expression of the modified gene is toxic to cells in the presence of nucleoside analogs, whereas weak expression of the gene is not toxic to cells. The deletion can comprise all or part of the first initiation codon and the vector can be a retrovirus. As also disclosed are cells transduced with the vector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for expressing a transgene in a target cell or a human or animal cell, characterized in that it consists of a eukaryotic cell established as a line, into which there have been transfected:a) a recombinant viral sequence in which a gene has been deleted totally or partially and substituted by the transgene at the level of this gene;b) a nucleic acid sequence including a sequence encoding the deleted protein, which sequence is in dependence on a promoter and is combined, where appropriate, with the transgene, and flanked at its 3' end a polyadenylation site;the recombinant viral genome and the sequence, carried by one or two plasmid supports, being capable of trans-complementing each other and allowing the host cell to produce defective infectious viruses.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant retroviral vectors, derived from Moloney MuLV, carrying a suicide gene susceptible of transforming an inactive substance into a toxic substance for cells going through a division process, said vectors being characterized by the presence in their structure of LTR sequences from variants of MuLV, and having the properties: (a) of not being inactivated during passage through the carcino-embryonic or line germinal cells of mice; (b) the expression of the suicide gene kills only the cells in the course of division.