Abstract: A subpopulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) that is substantially devoid of CD3+ cells, CD19+ cells, CD56+ cells and optionally of CD16+ cells, for use in treatment of CNS injury is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides an eye-drop vaccine for therapeutic immunization of a mammal comprising Copolymer 1, a Copolymer 1-related peptide, or a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, for treating neuronal degeneration caused by an injury or disease, disorder or condition in the central nervous system (CNS) or peripheral nervous system (PNS), for preventing or inhibiting neuronal secondary degeneration which may otherwise follow primary injury in the CNS, for promoting nerve regeneration in the CNS or in the PNS after an injury, disease, disorder or condition or for protecting CNS and PNS cells from glutamate toxicity.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in which there is accumulation of misfolded and/or aggregated proteins, excluding prion diseases. In particular, the invention relates to treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases Huntington's disease (HD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Parkinson's disease (PD), by administration of an agent selected from the group consisting of (i) Copolymer 1, (ii) a Copolymer 1-related peptide, (iii) a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, and (iv) T cells activated with (i), (ii) or (iii).

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in which there is accumulation of misfolded and/or aggregated proteins, excluding prion diseases. In particular, the invention relates to treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases Huntington's disease (HD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Parkinson's disease (PD), by administration of an agent selected from the group consisting of (i) Copolymer 1, (ii) a Copolymer 1-related peptide, (iii) a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, and (iv) T cells activated with (i), (ii) or (iii).

Abstract: Use of a GPR54 agonist or antagonist for the treatment of a disease or disorder presenting behavioral abnormalities associated with impairment of sensory gating function, and/or for treatment of depression, and/or for improving cognitive function is disclosed. In particular, the invention relates to the use of kisspeptin or a peptide thereof for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for early diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and for determining the efficacy of a treatment for ALS in an ALS patient, i.e., monitoring ALS progression, utilizing cellular blood markers; as well as kits for carrying out these methods.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of human mononuclear phagocytic leukocytes comprises incubating monocytes isolated from a blood sample of an individual and skin segments from the same individual, removing the dermis segments from the incubation mixture and sedimenting the obtained activated mononuclear phagocytic leukocytes by centrifugation, washing and resuspending the activated phagocytic leukocytes in the medium, and evaluating the culture for its suitability for human administration. Cellular therapy products are made from the obtained cultures and are useful for promoting axonal regeneration in the CNS, wound healing and treatment of myocardial infarction.

Abstract: Use of a GPR54 agonist or antagonist for the treatment of a disease or disorder presenting behavioral abnormalities associated with impairment of sensory gating function, and/or for treatment of depression, and/or for improving cognitive function is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for inducing and enhancing neurogenesis and/or oligodendrogenesis from endogenous as well as from exogenously administered stem cells comprises administering to an individual in need thereof an agent selected from the group consisting of Copolymer 1, a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, a Copolymer 1-related peptide, and activated T cells which have been activated by Copolymer 1, a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, or a Copolymer 1-related peptide. The method is particularly useful for stem cell therapy in combination with the agent.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in which there is accumulation of misfolded and/or aggregated proteins, excluding prion diseases. In particular, the invention relates to treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases Huntington's disease (HD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Parkinson's disease (PD), by administration of an agent selected from the group consisting of (i) Copolymer 1, (ii) a Copolymer 1-related peptide, (iii) a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, and (iv) T cells activated with (i), (ii) or (iii).

Abstract: Copolymer 1, a Copolymer 1-related peptide, a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, and T cells activated therewith are useful in methods and compositions for treatment of psychiatric disorders, diseases and conditions.

Abstract: Peptides derived from CNS-specific antigens, altered peptide ligands (APL) analogues of said peptides, T cells activated by such peptides, poly-YE, and any combination of said agents are useful for prevention, treatment and/or alleviation of anxiety disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder, and for restoring BDNF levels in the brain of an individual after reduction of BDNF expression induced by stress.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for modulation of the suppressive activity of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells (Treg) on CD4+CD25? effector T cells (Teff) are provided. An agent selected from: (i) dopamine; (ii) a dopamine precursor; (iii) a D1-R agonist; (iv) a D2-R antagonist; (v) a combination of (i) and (ii); or (vi) a combination of (i), (ii) or (iii) with (iv), down-regulates the suppressive activity of Treg and is useful for treatment of cancer. An agent selected from (i) a dopamine D2-R agonist, (ii) a dopamine D1-R antagonist, and (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), up-regulates the suppressive activity of Treg and is useful for treatment of an autoimmune disease or for controlling graft rejection in tissue/organ transplantation.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for treatment of age-related macular degeneration, which comprises causing T cells that produce IL-4 to accumulate in the eye by administration of an agent such as Copolymer-1, IL-4, cells activated with IL-4, IL-13 or up to 20 ng/ml IFN-g, or a pathogenic self-antigen associated with a T-cell-mediated specific autoimmune disease of the eye or a peptide derived therefrom, and any combination of such agents.

Abstract: The invention provides an eye-drop vaccine for therapeutic immunization of a mammal comprising Copolymer 1, a Copolymer 1-related peptide, or a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, for treating neuronal degeneration caused by an injury or disease, disorder or condition in the central nervous system (CNS) or peripheral nervous system (PNS), for preventing or inhibiting neuronal secondary degeneration which may otherwise follow primary injury in the CNS, for promoting nerve regeneration in the CNS or in the PNS after an injury, disease, disorder or condition or for protecting CNS and PNS cells from glutamate toxicity.

Abstract: A method for inducing and enhancing neurogenesis and/or oligodendrogenesis from endogenous as well as from exogenously administered stem cells comprises administering to an individual in need thereof an agent selected from the group consisting of Copolymer 1, a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, a Copolymer 1-related peptide, and activated T cells which have been activated by Copolymer 1, a Copolymer 1-related polypeptide, or a Copolymer 1-related peptide. The method is particularly useful for stem cell therapy in combination with the agent.

Abstract: Compositions and methods to promote nerve regeneration or to confer neuroprotection and prevent or inhibit neuronal degeneration within the nervous system, either the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system, are provided. Treatment involves administering NS-specific activated T cells, or an NS-specific antigen or analog thereof, a peptide derived therefrom or an analog or derivative of said peptide, or a nucleotide sequence encoding such an antigen or peptide, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A method is provided for inducing and enhancing neurogenesis and/or oligodendrogenesis from endogenous as well as from exogenously administered stem cells, which comprises administering to an individual in need a neuroprotective agent such as a nervous system (NS)-specific antigen, a peptide derived therefrom, T cells activated therewith, poly-YE, microglia activated by IFN-? and/or IL-4 and combinations thereof. The method includes stem cell therapy in combination with the neuroprotective agent.

Abstract: Compositions are provided for promoting nerve regeneration or reducing or inhibiting degeneration in the CNS or PNS to ameliorate the effects of injury or disease. The composition includes an active ingredient selected from:(a) a peptide obtained by modification of a self-peptide derived from a CNS-specific antigen, which modification consists in the replacement of one or more amino acid residues of the self-peptide by different amino acid residues, such modified CNS peptide still being capable of recognizing the T-cell receptor recognized by the self-peptide but with less affinity; (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding such a peptide; (c) T cells activated by such peptide; and (d) any combination of (a)-(c). The peptide is preferably obtained by modification of the self-peptide p87-99 of MBP, more preferably, by replacing lysine 91 with glycine (G91) or alanine (A91) or by replacing proline 96 with alanine (A96).

Abstract: Methods are provided for treating injury to or disease of the central or peripheral nervous system. In one embodiment, treatment is effected by administering activated T cells that recognize an antigen of Cop 1 or a Cop 1-related peptide or polypeptide to promote nerve regeneration or to prevent or inhibit neuronal degeneration within the nervous system. In another embodiment, treatment involves administering Cop 1 or a Cop 1-related peptide or polypeptide to promote nerve regeneration or to prevent or inhibit neuronal degeneration in the nervous system, either the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system. The activated T cells, which have been activated by the presence of Cop 1 or a Cop 1-related peptide or polypeptide, can be administered alone or in combination with Cop 1 or a Cop 1-related peptide or polypeptide.