Abstract: The invention relates to a conjugate that comprises an Apo A molecule or a functionally equivalent variant thereof and a compound of therapeutic interest wherein both components are covalently coupled as well as to the use of said conjugates in therapy for the specific targeting of said compounds to those tissues showing specific binding sites for the Apo A molecule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cold organ preservation composition for transplantation comprising a cold organ preservation solution and cardiotrophin-1 or a functionally equivalent variant thereof. The invention also relates to methods and kits for the preparation of said composition, the uses thereof for the cold organ protection and/or preservation for transplantation (particularly for kidney, lung and heart) and also to the cold preservation methods and cold-preserved isolated organs by these methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleotide sequences coding for human porphobilinogen deaminase that are optimised for higher expression in mammalian cells. The invention further relates to DNA constructs comprising such optimised synthetic coding sequences for use in gene therapy of conditions caused by a deficiency in porphobilinogen deaminase, such as acute intermittent porphyria. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a nucleic acid or a nucleic acid construct comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for a human porphobilinogen deaminase, wherein at least 320 of the codons coding for the human porphobilinogen deaminase are identical to the codons in SEQ ID NO: 1 or wherein at least 305 of the codons coding for the human porphobilinogen deaminase are identical to the codons in SEQ ID NO: 3.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the treatment of cirrhosis and liver fibrosis by the use or viral vectors containing the gene encoding IGF-I. The invention discloses both parvoviral vectors and SV40-based vectors as well uses thereof for the treatment of cirrhosis and gene therapy and methods for the preparation of said viral vectors.

Abstract: The invention relates to peptides of general formula (I), wherein X is absent or X is present and is X14 or X14-X15, wherein X14 and X15, independently from one another, represent an amino acid; their functional variants and fragments, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, having the capacity to bind to scurfin and inhibit its biological activity, therefore they regulate or block the activity of regulatory T (Treg) lymphocytes. They are applicable in the treatment of infectious and neoplastic diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cold organ preservation composition for transplantation comprising a cold organ preservation solution and cardiotrophin-1 or a functionally equivalent variant thereof. The invention also relates to methods and kits for the preparation of said composition, the uses thereof for the cold organ protection and/or preservation for transplantation (particularly for kidney, lung and heart) and also to the cold preservation methods and cold-preserved isolated organs by these methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of compositions comprising a type III interferon and oncostatin M and to the use of said compositions for the treatment and prevention of infectious and neoplastic diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to immunogenic conjugates comprising an immunogenic region of human papilloma virus E7 protein and the fibronectin EDA region, as well to compositions comprising said conjugates and to dendritic cells obtained by stimulation with said conjugates and compositions. Moreover, the invention relates to methods for the treatment of diseases caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) using said conjugates, compositions and dendritic cells.

Abstract: The application relates to gene constructs for inducible hepato-specific expression of polynucleotides of interest in response to an inducer agent, said constructs comprising (i) an inducible bi-directional operator-promoter with at least one responsive element to said inducer agent flanked by two hepato-specific promoters acting in divergent manner, (ii) a first nucleotide sequence encoding a transactivator which may be activated by said inducer agent operatively coupled to the first hepato-specific promoter and (iii) a second nucleotide sequence operatively coupled to the second hepato-specific promoter, wherein the promoters are induced as a consequence of the binding of the transactivator to the operator region of the operator-promoter in the presence of the inducer agent.

Abstract: 5?-methylthioadenosine (MTA) is described as a compound that is susceptible to inhibiting and/or blocking the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process whereby epithelial cells become mesenchymal cells. The periodical intake of MTA [every 24 h for 21 days] significantly improves fibrosis and the markers for hepatic cellular damage in KO-Mdr2 mice with MTA (28 mg/kg). Following the daily oral administration of MTA, both the expression of EMT markers in the total liver and appreciable signs of fibrosis are significantly reduced, indicating the beneficial effect of MTA on the liver affected by the lack of Mdr2. MTA is proposed to be a safe drug, suitable for oral formulation and without secondary effects, to be used in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases associated with EMT, including chronic cholestatic diseases, fibrosis and cholangiocarcinoma.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the treatment of cirrhosis and liver fibrosis by the use or viral vectors containing the gene encoding IGF-I. The invention discloses both parvoviral vectors and SV40-based vectors as well uses thereof for the treatment of cirrhosis and gene therapy and methods for the preparation of said viral vectors.

Abstract: The invention is related to the use of cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) for the treatment of obesity and associated disorders: hyperglycaemias, insulin resistance, development of type 2 diabetes and dyslipemias and given its anorexigenic role, fat oxidation stimulant, hypoglycaemic, sensitizing agent of the action of insulin on a skeletal muscle level and inhibitor of the intestinal transport of glucose by enterocytes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conjugate that comprises an Apo A molecule or a functionally equivalent variant thereof and a compound of therapeutic interest wherein both components are covalently coupled as well as to the use of said conjugates in therapy for the specific targeting of said compounds to those tissues showing specific binding sites for the ApoA molecule.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for increasing immunogenicity of an antigenic peptide by means of its covalent coupling to a modulin derived peptide (PSM, phenol soluble modulin). In particular, the binding of PSM?, PSM? and PSM? peptides to an antigen (from a pathogen or a tumor associated protein) increases the capacity of the antigen to activate an immune response in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleotide sequences coding for human porphobilinogen deaminase that are optimised for higher expression in mammalian cells. The invention further relates to DNA constructs comprising such optimised synthetic coding sequences for use in gene therapy of conditions caused by a deficiency in porphobilinogen deaminase, such as acute intermittent porphyria. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a nucleic acid or a nucleic acid construct comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for a human porphobilinogen deaminase, wherein at least 320 of the codons coding for the human porphobilinogen deaminase are identical to the codons in SEQ ID NO: 1 or wherein at least 305 of the codons coding for the human porphobilinogen deaminase are identical to the codons in SEQ ID NO: 3.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of oncostatin M (OSM), an OSM receptor (OSMR) agonist, or a combination of OSM or a OSMR agonist with an interferon type I; in the manufacture of a medicament for enhancing the immunostimulatory activity of epithelial cells in a human.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nuew system for production and packaging of high capacity adenoviral vectors which does not require the use of helper virues and which is characterized in that it integrates the adenoviral genes needed for the control, replication and packaging of the viral particuiles in the genome of a host cell, which results in the improvement of the long term stability of the production system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adapter protein comprising a coxackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) region and a human CD40 ligand and to the uses thereof for promoting adenoviral transduction of dendritic cells while at the same time promoting maturation of the DCs. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said adapter protein and an adenovirus encoding an antigen and the uses thereof in a method for eliciting an immune response against the antigen encoded in said adenovirus as well as to antigen-loaded dendritic cells obtained the adaptor protein and an adenovirus and to the uses thereof in a method of eliciting an immune response against the antigen encoded in the adenovirus.