Abstract: The invention provides modified TGF-? family proteins having altered biological or biochemical properties, and methods for making them. Specific modified protein constructs include TGF-? family member proteins that have N-terminal truncations, “latent” proteins, fusion proteins and heterodimers.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for maintaining neural pathways in a mammal including: enhancing survival of neurons at risk of dying; inducing cellular repair of damaged neurons and neural pathways; stimulating neurons to maintain their differentiated phenotype; and promoting dendritic outgrowth, including maintaining dendritic arbors and regenerating dendritic architecture. In one embodiment, the invention provides means for stimulating CAM expression in neurons. The invention also provides means for evaluating the status of nerve tissue, including means for detecting and monitoring neuropathies in a mammal. The methods, devices and compositions include a morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent provided to the mammal in a therapeutically effective concentration.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) osteogenic devices comprising a matrix containing substantially pure natural-sourced mammalian osteogenic protein; (2) DNA and amino acid sequences for novel polypeptide chains useful as subunits of dimeric osteogenic proteins; (3) vectors carrying sequences encoding these novel polypeptide chains and host cells transfected with these vectors; (4) methods of producing these polypeptide chains using recombinant DNA technology; (5) antibodies specific for these novel polypeptide chains; (6) osteogenic devices comprising these recombinantly produced proteins in association with an appropriate carrier matrix; and (7) methods of using the osteogenic devices to mimic the natural course of endochondral bone formation in mammals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for alleviating tissue destructive effects associated with the inflammatory response to tissue injury in a mammal. The methods and compositions include administering a therapeutically effective concentration of a morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent sufficient to alleviate immune cell-mediated tissue destruction.

Abstract: Disclosed are therapeutic treatment methods, compositions and devices for maintaining neural pathways in a mammal, including enhancing survival of neurons at risk of dying, inducing cellular repair of damaged neurons and neural pathways, and stimulating neurons to maintain their differentiated phenotype. In one embodiment, the invention provides means for stimulating CAM expression in neurons. The invention also provides means for evaluating the status of nerve tissue, including means for detecting and monitoring neuropathies in a mammal. The methods, devices and compositions include a morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent provided to the mammal in a therapeutically effective concentration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a formulation for targeting an epitope on an antigen expressed in a mammal. The formulation comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier together with a dimeric biosynthetic construct for binding at least one preselected antigen. The biosynthetic construct contains two polypeptide chains, each of which define single-chain Fv (sFv) binding proteins and have C-terminal tails that facilitate the crosslinking of two sFv polypeptides. The resulting dimeric constructs have a conformation permitting binding of a said preselected antigen by the binding site of each said polypeptide chain when administered to said mammal. The formulation has particular utility in in vivo imaging and drug targeting experiments.

Abstract: Disclosed are 1) osteogenic devices comprising a matrix containing osteogenic protein and methods of inducing endochondral bone growth in mammals using the devices; 2) amino acid sequence data, amino acid composition, solubility properties, structural features, homologies and various other data characterizing osteogenic proteins, 3) methods of producing osteogenic proteins using recombinant DNA technology, and 4) osteogenically and chondrogenically active synthetic protein constructs.

Abstract: The invention provides modified proteins and DNAs of the TGF-? superfamily including modified morphogenic proteins. The proteins of the present invention display altered biological or biochemical attributes. Specifically, the modified proteins are designed through manipulation or exchange of subdomains among two or more members of the superfamily such that certain desired attributes are mixed-and-matched and then exploited therapeutically.

Abstract: Disclosed are therapeutic treatment methods, compositions and devices for maintaining neural pathways in a mammal, including enhancing survival of neurons at risk of dying, inducing cellular repair of damaged neurons and neural pathways, and stimulating neurons to maintain their differentiated phenotype. In one embodiment, the invention provides means for stimulating CAM expression in neurons. The invention also provides means for evaluating the status of nerve tissue, including means for detecting and monitoring neuropathies in a mammal. The methods, devices and compositions include a morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent provided to the mammal in a therapeutically effective concentration.

Abstract: Disclosed are 1) amino acid sequence data, structural features, homologies and various other data characterizing morphogenic proteins, 2) methods of producing these proteins from natural and recombinant sources and from synthetic constructs, 3) morphogenic devices comprising these morphogenic proteins and a suitably modified tissue-specific matrix, and 4) methods of inducing non-chondrogenic tissue growth in a mammal.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) osteogenic devices comprising a matrix containing substantially pure natural-sourced mammalian osteogenic protein; (2) DNA and amino acid sequences for novel polypeptide chains useful as subunits of dimeric osteogenic proteins; (3) vectors carrying sequences encoding these novel polypeptide chains and host cells transfected with these vectors; (4) methods of producing these polypeptide chains using recombinant DNA technology; (5) antibodies specific for these novel polypeptide chains; (6) osteogenic devices comprising these recombinantly produced proteins in association with an appropriate carrier matrix; and (7) methods of using the osteogenic devices to mimic the natural course of endochondral bone formation in mammals.

Abstract: Disclosed are therapeutic treatment methods, compositions and devices for maintaining neural pathways in a mammal, including enhancing survival of neurons at risk of dying, inducing cellular repair of damaged neurons and neural pathways, and stimulating neurons to maintain their differentiated phenotype. In one embodiment, the invention provides means for stimulating CAM expression in neurons. The invention also provides means for evaluating the status of nerve tissue, including means for detecting and monitoring neuropathies in a mammal. The methods, devices and compositions include a morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent provided to the mammal in a therapeutically effective concentration.

Abstract: The invention provides modified proteins and DNAs of the TGF-&bgr; superfamily including modified morphogenic proteins. The proteins of the present invention display altered biological or biochemical attributes. Specifically, the modified proteins are designed through substitutions of amino acids in the finger 2 sub-domain or exchanges of all or part of the finger 2 sub-domain of one TGF-&bgr; superfamily member with the finger 2 sub-domain of another TGF-&bgr; superfamily member.

Abstract: Disclosed are 1) osteogenic devices comprising a matrix containing osteogenic protein and methods of inducing endochondral bone growth in mammals using the devices; 2) amino acid sequence data, amino acid composition, solubility properties, structural features, homologies and various other data characterizing osteogenic proteins, 3) methods of producing osteogenic proteins using recombinant DNA technology, and 4) osteogenically and chondrogenically active synthetic protein constructs.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract luminal lining in a mammal, including (1) limiting epithelial cell proliferation, (2) inhibiting ulcerative lesion formation, (3) inhibiting inflammation normally associated with ulcerative diseases, and (4) stimulating the repair of ulcerative lesions and the regeneration of the luminal tissue. The methods and compositions include a therapeutically effective amount of a morphogen as defined herein.

Abstract: Disclosed are 1) osteogenic devices comprising a matrix containing osteogenic protein and methods of inducing endochondral bone growth in mammals using the devices; 2) amino acid sequence data, amino acid composition, solubility properties, structural features, homologies and various other data characterizing osteogenic proteins, 3) methods of producing osteogenic proteins using recombinant DNA technology, and 4) osteogenically and chondrogenically active synthetic protein constructs.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) osteogenic devices comprising a matrix containing substantially pure natural-sourced mammalian osteogenic protein; (2) DNA and amino acid sequences for novel polypeptide chains useful as subunits of dimeric osteogenic proteins; (3) vectors carrying sequences encoding these novel polypeptide chains and host cells transfected with these vectors; (4) methods of producing these polypeptide chains using recombinant DNA technology; (5) antibodies specific for these novel polypeptide chains; (6) osteogenic devices comprising these recombinantly produced proteins in association with an appropriate carrier matrix; and (7) methods of using the osteogenic devices to mimic the natural course of endochondral bone formation in mammals.

Abstract: A substrate stack includes a first substrate, a second substrate arranged opposite the first substrate, a frame connecting the first substrate and the second substrate to each other and a core element also connecting the first substrate and the second substrate to each other and arranged within the frame, wherein the frame is a closed frame or comprises one or several openings, wherein the one or several openings occupy less than half of the perimeter of the frame.

Abstract: Disclosed are therapeutic treatment methods, compositions and devices for maintaining neural pathways in a mammal, including enhancing survival of neurons at risk of dying, inducing cellular repair of damaged neurons and neural pathways, and stimulating neurons to maintain their differentiated phenotype. In one embodiment, the invention provides means for stimulating CAM expression in neurons. The invention also provides means for evaluating the status of nerve tissue, including means for detecting and monitoring neuropathies in a mammal. The methods, devices and compositions include a morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent provided to the mammal in a therapeutically effective concentration.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel compositions of morphogenic proteins constituting soluble forms of these proteins, antibodies that distinguish between soluble and mature forms, and method for producing these morphogenic proteins and antibodies.