Abstract: An isolated polypeptide is provided. The isolated polypeptide comprising an antigen recognition domain capable of specifically binding a CD44 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and incapable of binding a CD44 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides encoding novel galectin-8 variants polypeptides are provided. Also provided are methods and kits using same for diagnosing prognosing and treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other joint/chronic inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide is provided. The isolated polypeptide comprising an antigen recognition domain capable of specifically binding a CD44 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and incapable of binding a CD44 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide is provided. The isolated polypeptide comprising an antigen recognition domain capable of specifically binding a CD44 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and incapable of binding a CD44 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide is provided. The isolated polypeptide comprising an antigen recognition domain capable of specifically binding a CD44 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and incapable of binding a CD44 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides encoding novel galectin-8 variants polypeptides are provided. Also provided are methods and kits using same for diagnosing prognosing and treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other joint/chronic inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides encoding novel galectin-8 variants polypeptides are provided. Also provided are methods and kits using same for diagnosing prognosing and treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other joint/chronic inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide is provided. The isolated polypeptide comprising an antigen recognition domain capable of specifically binding a CD44 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and incapable of binding a CD44 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide is provided. The isolated polypeptide comprising an antigen recognition domain capable of specifically binding a CD44 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and incapable of binding a CD44 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide is provided. The isolated polypeptide comprising an antigen recognition domain capable of specifically binding a CD44 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and incapable of binding a CD44 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the finding that Gal-8 binds to carbohydrates of cell surface CD44std and CD44v and activates a chain of biological events within the cells. A specific effect exhibited was the induction of apoptosis in the CD44std and CD44v expressing cells. Thus, the present invention concerns the use of an active agent for achieving a therapeutic effect on a target cell, the therapeutic effect comprises binding of said active agent to a standard CD44 (CD44std) glycoprotein or to a CD44 variant (CD44v) expressed by said target cell, the active agent being galectin-8 (Gal-8) or a functional derivative thereof. The active ingredient may be used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition, for the treatment of a disease or a disorder or for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide is provided. The isolated polypeptide comprising an antigen recognition domain capable of specifically binding a CD44 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and incapable of binding a CD44 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides encoding novel galectin-8 variants polypeptides are provided. Also provided are methods and kits using same for diagnosing prognosing and treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other joint/chronic inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: Modulation of the activity of a heparin-binding growth factor (HBGF) by enhancing or inhibiting high affinity binding of said HBGF to its receptor, can be achieved with an agent selected from: (i) a soluble CD44 isoform carrying at least one chain of a heparan sulfate; (ii) a recombinant chimeric fusion protein comprising the amino acid sequence of a soluble CD44 isoform fused to a tag suitable for proteoglycan purification, said fusion molecule being post-translationally glycosylated to carry at least one chain of a heparan sulfate; and (iii) a sugar molecule being a heparan sulfate derived from a CD44 isoform, or a fragment thereof. The agents (i) and (ii) when the soluble CD44 isoform is the soluble CD44 variant expressed in synovial cells of rheumatoid arthritis patients (CD44vRA), and the heparan sulfate of (iii), are novel.

Abstract: A novel variant mRNA transcript of CD44 found in synovial cells of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is described. This novel transcript contains the known CD44 constant and variant exons but also comprises three additional nucleotides (CAG) that are transcribed from the end of the intron bridging Exon v4 to Exon v5 and are inserted at the 5′ end of Exon v5. This extra CAG sequence results in the insertion of a new codon for the amino acid alanine. The novel CD44 transcript found to date in eighteen RA patients and not found in healthy (non-RA) individuals, is useful in the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention and treatment of RA, of other diseases in which the variant CD44 transcript is involved and possibly in disorders and diseases which involve cells expressing other forms of the CD44 protein.