Abstract: This invention relates to treatment of nerve injuries and regeneration of nerves and nerve function in the acutely and chronically lesioned central and peripheral nervous system. The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising histone, e.g., H1. It was surprisingly shown that histones, in particular histone H1, can be used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for treatment and/or prevention of acute and chronic injuries to the central and peripheral nervous system, for promoting growth and/or regrowth of nerves and enhancing formation of synapses and synaptic plasticity, and for neuroprotection.

Abstract: A peptide consisting of 5 to 30 amino acid residues, preferably 9 to 15, most preferably about 12 amino acid residues, comprising a B epitope of a poly-?2,8 sialic acid attached to NCAM which is recognized by an anti-poly-?2,8 sialic acid (PSA) antibody, the use thereof and the preparation of a medicament for modulating NCAM functions, to be administered for the prevention and/or the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, brain and spine lesions, age-related learning and memory problems, and cancer is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention features a method for promoting neural growth in vivo in the mammalian central nervous system by administering a neural cell adhesion molecule which can overcome inhibitory molecular cues found on glial cells and myelin to promote neural growth. Also featured active fragments, cognates, congeners, mimics, analogs, secreting cells and soluble molecules thereof, as well as antibodies thereto, and DNA molecules, vectors and transformed cells capable of expressing them. The neuroprotective of the agents as well as their ability to promote and effect myelination and remyelination are also disclosed, as are the concomitant benefits that these capabilities confer, in the former instance, with regard to reduction of apoptosis and necrosis, and in the latter instance, the treatment of Parkinsonism, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. The invention also includes transgenic mouse lines expressing a neural adhesion molecule in differentiated astrocytes, and cells and tissues derived therefrom.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a peptide consisting of 5 to 30 amino acid residues, preferably 9 to 15, most preferably about 12 amino acid residues, said peptide comprising a B epitope of a poly-?2,8 sialic acid attached to NCAM, which is recognized by an anti-poly-?2,8 sialic acid (PSA) antibody, for the preparation of a medicament for modulating NCAM functions, to be administered for the prevention and/or the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, brain and spine lesions, age-related learning and memory problems, and cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a peptide consisting of 5 to 30 amino acid residues, preferably 9 to 15, most preferably about 12 amino acid residues, said peptide comprising a B epitope of a poly-?2,8 sialic acid attached to NCAM, which is recognized by an anti-poly-?2,8 sialic acid (PSA) antibody, for the preparation of a medicament for modulating NCAM functions, to be administered for the prevention and/or the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, brain and spine lesions, age-related learning and memory problems, and cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a peptide consisting of 5 to 30 amino acid residues, preferably 9 to 15, most preferably about 12 amino acid residues, said peptide comprising a B epitope of a poly-?2,8 sialic acid attached to NCAM, which is recognized by an anti-poly-?2,8 sialic acid (PSA) antibody, for the preparation of a medicament for modulating NCAM functions, to be administered for the prevention and/or the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, brain and spine lesions, age-related learning and memory problems, and cancer.

Abstract: The current invention relates to methods for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of a dementia-related neurodegenerative disease in a patient suspected of having such a disease by determining the levels of at least one cell adhesion molecule.

Abstract: The invention features a method for promoting neural growth in vivo in the mammalian central nervous system by administering a neural cell adhesion molecule which can overcome inhibitory molecular cues found on glial cells and myelin to promote neural growth. Also featured active fragments, cognates, congeners, mimics, analogs, secreting cells and soluble molecules thereof, as well as antibodies thereto, and DNA molecules, vectors and transformed cells capable of expressing them. The neuroprotective of the agents as well as their ability to promote and effect myelination and remyelination are alse disclosed, as are the concomitant benefits that these capabilities confer, in the former instance, with regard to reduction of apoptosis and necrosis, and in the latter instance, the treatment of Parkinsonism, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. The invention also includes transgenic mouse lines expressing a neural adhesion molecule in differentiated astrocytes, and cells and tissues derived therefrom.

Abstract: The invention features a method for promoting neural growth in vivo in the mammalian central nervous system by administering a neural cell adhesion molecule which can overcome inhibitory molecular cues found on glial cells and myelin to promote neural growth. Also featured active fragments, cognates, congeners, mimics, analogs, secreting cells and soluble molecules thereof, as well as antibodies thereto, and DNA molecules, vectors and transformed cells capable of expressing them. The neuroprotective of the agents as well as their ability to promote and effect myelination and remyelination are alse disclosed, as are the concomitant benefits that these capabilities confer, in the former instance, with regard to reduction of apoptosis and necrosis, and in the latter instance, the treatment of Parkinsonism, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. The invention also includes transgenic mouse lines expressing a neural adhesion molecule in differentiated astrocytes, and cells and tissues derived therefrom.

Abstract: This invention provides carbohydrate epitope mimic compounds, particularly peptides, and analogs and variants thereof. In particular, the compounds and peptides of the present invention mimic the carbohydrate epitope GlcA&bgr;1→3Gal&bgr;1→4GlcNAc or sulfate -3GlcA&bgr;1→3Gal&bgr;1→4GlcNAc, or the L2/HNK1 carbohydrate epitope. This invention provides an isolated peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a carbohydrate epitope mimic peptide in which the amino acid sequence is set forth in any of SEQ ID NOS: 1-8, 27-38, 39, 40 and 41, including variants, analogs and active fragments thereof. The invention further provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a carbohydrate epitope mimic peptide.

Abstract: The invention features a method for promoting neural growth in vivo in the mammalian central nervous system by administering a neural cell adhesion molecule which can overcome inhibitory molecular cues found on glial cells and myelin to promote neural growth. Also featured active fragments, cognates, congeners, mimics, analogs, secreting cells and soluble molecules thereof, as well as antibodies thereto, and DNA molecules, vectors and transformed cells capable of expressing them. The invention also includes transgenic mouse lines expressing a neural adhesion molecule in differentiated astrocytes, and cells and tissues derived therefrom. The expression of the neural adhesion molecule enhances neurite outgrowth on central nervous system tissue derived from these transgenic mice. The invention also features methods for enhancing neuronal outgrowth of CNS neurons, for enhancing memory and for increasing synaptic efficacy.