Abstract: A conjugate of a synthetic polypeptide containing RGD or (dR) GD and a biodegradable polymer, such as hyaluronic acid or chondroitin sulfate is disclosed. Methods of making the conjugate and using it to aid wound healing by providing a temporary matrix are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for selecting cell lines expressing increased cell adhesion properties or promoting cell differentiation by culturing cells in increasing concentrations of adhesion ligand containing media. Cell lines produced by such method.

Abstract: Novel synthetic Arg-Gly-Asp containing peptides which have high affinity and specificity for their receptors by virtue of restrictions on their stereochemical conformation. Such restrictions can be provided by cyclization, by inclusion into a constraining conformational structure such as a helix, by providing an additional chemical structure such as an amide or an enantiomer of a naturally occurring amino acid, or by other methods. In particular, there are provided cyclic peptides having increased affinity and selectivity for the certain receptors over that of linear, Arg-Gly-Asp-containing synthetic peptides.

Abstract: Novel synthetic Arg-Gly-Asp containing peptides which have high affinity and specificity for their receptors by virtue of restrictions on their stereochemical conformation. Such restrictions can be provided by cyclization, by inclusion into a constraining conformational structure such as a helix, by providing an additional chemical structure such as an amide or an enantiomer of a naturally occurring amino acid, or by other methods. In particular, there are provided cyclic peptides having increased affinity and selectivity for the certain receptors over that of linear, Arg-Gly-Asp-containing synthetic peptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides fibronectin self-assembly sites. The invention provides a set of polypeptides derived from the first type III repeat of fibronectin which contain a fibronectin-fibronectin binding site. These polypeptides have been used to obtain a second set of polypeptides derived from the C-terminal type I repeats which contain a second fibronectin-fibronectin binding site which interacts with the first type III repeat of fibronectin. These polypeptides are capable of inhibiting fibronectin matrix assembly by interfering with fibronectin-fibronectin binding. These polypeptides are also capable of enhancing fibronectin matrix assembly and inducing disulfide cross-linking of fibronectin molecules in vitro. In addition, these polypeptides are capable of inhibiting migration of tumor cells. The polypeptides of the present invention have a number of related uses as well.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for promoting cell migration and tissue regeneration. The composition contains a ligand for the .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.3 integrin and a ligand for the insulin receptor, the PDGF receptor, the IL-4 receptor, or the IGF receptor, combined in a matrix. The combination of .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.3 ligand and growth factor produces an unexpected synergistic effect in enhancing wound healing compared with the effect of each component separately. The present invention also provides a method of wound healing and a method of inducing tissue regeneration by applying the compositions of the present invention to the site of the wound.

Abstract: Novel synthetic Arg-Gly-Asp containing peptides which have high affinity and specificity for their receptors by virtue of restrictions on their stereochemical conformation. Such restrictions can be provided by cyclization, by inclusion into a constraining conformational structure such as a helix, by providing an additional chemical structure such as an amide or an enantiomer of a naturally occurring amino acid, or by other methods. In particular, there are provided cyclic peptides having increased affinity and selectivity for the certain receptors over that of linear, Arg-Gly-Asp-containing synthetic peptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides fibronectin self-assembly sites. The invention provides a set of polypeptides derived from the first type III repeat of fibronectin which contain a fibronectin-fibronectin binding site. These polypeptides have been used to obtain a second set of polypeptides derived from the C-terminal type I repeats which contain a second fibronectin-fibronectin binding site which interacts with the first type III repeat of fibronectin. These polypeptides are capable of inhibiting fibronectin matrix assembly by interfering with fibronectin-fibronectin binding. These polypeptides are also capable of enhancing fibronectin matrix assembly and inducing disulfide cross-linking of fibronectin molecules in vitro. In addition, these polypeptides are capable of inhibiting migration of tumor cells. The polypeptides of the present invention have a number of related uses as well.

Abstract: A method of treating of glomerulonephritis in a patient by administering decorin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting an activity of a cell regulatory factor comprising contacting the cell regulatory factor with a purified polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide comprises a cell regulatory factor binding domain of a protein. The protein is characterized by a leucine-rich repeat of about 24 amino acids. In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to the ability of decorin, a 40,000 dalton protein that usually carries a glycosaminoglycan chain, and more specifically to active fragments of decorin or its functional equivalents to bind TGF.beta.. The invention also provides a novel cell regulatory factor designated MRF. Also provided are methods of identifying, detecting and purifying cell regulatory factors and proteins which bind and affect the activity of cell regulatory factors.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a peptide having the amino acid sequence of the cytoplasmic domain of integrin subunit .beta..sub.3 ', KFEEERARAKWDTVRDGAGRFLKSLV, or subsequences thereof, and the nucleic acid encoding that peptide.

Abstract: A method for selecting cell lines expressing increased cell adhesion properties or promoting cell differentiation by culturing cells in increasing concentrations of adhesion ligand containing media. Cell lines produced by such method.

Abstract: The peptide X-Arg-Gly-Asp-R-Y wherein X is H or at least one amino acid and Y is OH or at least one amino acid, and R is an amino acid selected from Thr or Cys, or other amino acid, having the same cell-attachment activity as fibronectin and the peptide X-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Y, wherein X and Y, having said activity are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for promoting cell migration and tissue regeneration. The composition contains a ligand for the .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.3 integrin and a ligand for the insulin receptor, the PDGF receptor, the IL-4 receptor, or the IGF receptor, combined in a matrix. The combination of .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.3 ligand and growth factor produces an unexpected synergistic effect in enhancing wound healing compared with the effect of each component separately. The present invention also provides a method of wound healing and a method of inducing tissue regeneration by applying the compositions of the present invention to the site of the wound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting an activity of a cell regulatory factor which includes contacting the cell regulatory factor with a purified polypeptide, the polypeptide including the cell regulatory factor binding domain of a protein which is characterized by a leucine-rich repeat of about 24 amino acids. The present invention relates to the ability of decorin, a 40,000 dalton protein that usually carries a glycosaminoglycan chain, to bind TGF-.beta.. The invention also provides a novel cell regulatory factor designated MRF. Also provided are methods of identifying, detecting and purifying cell regulatory factors and proteins which bind and affect the activity of cell regulatory factors. The present invention further relates to methods for the prevention or reduction of scarring by administering decorin or a functional equivalent of decorin to a wound. The methods are particularly useful for dermal wounds resulting from burns, injuries or surgery.

Abstract: The present invention provides fibronectin self-assembly sites. The invention provides a set of polypeptides derived from the first type III repeat of fibronectin which contain a fibronectin-fibronectin binding site. These polypeptides have been used to obtain a second set of polypeptides derived from the C-terminal type I repeats which contain a second fibronectin-fibronectin binding site which interacts with the first type III repeat of fibronectin. These polypeptides are capable of inhibiting fibronectin matrix assembly by interfering with fibronectin-fibronectin binding. These polypeptides are also capable of enhancing fibronectin matrix assembly and inducing disulfide cross-linking of fibronectin molecules in vitro. In addition, these polypeptides are capable of inhibiting migration of tumor cells. The polypeptides of the present invention have a number of related uses as well.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially pure integrin characterized in that it consists of an .alpha..sub.v and a .beta..sub.1 subunit. The receptor binds to fibronectin and GRGDSPK but does not bind to vitronectin. The .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.1 receptor can be used to determine the presence of ligands for the receptor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting an activity of TGF.beta. comprising contacting the TGF.beta. with a purified decorin. In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to the ability of decorin, a 40,000 dalton protein that usually carries a glycosaminoglycan chain, to bind TGF.beta.. The invention also provides a novel cell regulatory factor designated MRF. Also provided are methods of identifying, detecting and purifying cell regulatory factors and proteins which bind and affect the activity of cell regulatory factors.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the invasion of cells, particularly malignant cells through an extracellular membrane by contacting the membrane-cell interface with synthetic Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides. In one embodiment, the invention provides peptides containing the amino acid sequence Arg-Gly-Asp-Thr, more specifically Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Thr-Pro, which inhibits the attachment of cells to type I collagen in addition to fibronectin and vitronectin, and a method of inhibiting the attachment of cells to type I collagen. The invention further provides an assay for quantitating the invasive quality of cells by determining the amount of such peptides necessary to prevent the cells from penetrating an extracellular membrane, such as an amniotic membrane, in vitro.

Abstract: Antibodies against integrins are disclosed, as are methods of making same. Such antibodies are elicited by immunizing with synthetic peptides corresponding to the cytoplasmic domains, or functional portions thereof, of various integrin subunits. Peptides employed for such immunization include known cytoplasmic domain amino acid sequences for integrin subunits, as well as newly discovered cytoplasmic domain amino acid sequences for integrin subunits. The latter amino acid sequences are also disclosed and described herein.