Abstract: The invention relates to a double-stranded compound, preferably an oligoribonucleotide (siRNA), which down-regulates the expression of a human TGaseII gene at the post-transcriptional level. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, or a vector capable of expressing the oligoribonucleotide compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also contemplates a method of treating a patient suffering from a fibrotic disease such as pulmonary, kidney and liver fibrosis or ocular, scarring comprising administering to the patient the pharmaceutical composition in a therapeutically effective dose so as to thereby treat the patient. The invention also relates to treatment of fibrotic and other diseases by use of antibodies to TGaseII polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a double-stranded compound, preferably an oligoribonucleotide (siRNA), which down-regulates the expression of a human TGaseII gene at the post-transcriptional level. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, or a vector capable of expressing the oligoribonucleotide compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also contemplates a method of treating a patient suffering from a fibrotic disease such as pulmonary, kidney and liver fibrosis or ocular, scarring comprising administering to the patient the pharmaceutical composition in a therapeutically effective dose so as to thereby treat the patient. The invention also relates to treatment of fibrotic and other diseases by use of antibodies to TGaseII polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a double-stranded compound, preferably an oligoribonucleotide (siRNA), which down-regulates the expression of a human TGaseII gene at the post-transcriptional level. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, or a vector capable of expressing the oligoribonucleotide compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also contemplates a method of treating a patient suffering from a fibrotic disease such as pulmonary, kidney and liver fibrosis or ocular, scarring comprising administering to the patient the pharmaceutical composition in a therapeutically effective dose so as to thereby treat the patient. The invention also relates to treatment of fibrotic and other diseases by use of antibodies to TGaseII polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a double-stranded compound, preferably an oligoribonucleotide, which down-regulates the expression of a gene of the TGase family at post-transcriptional level. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, or a vector capable of expressing the oligoribonucleotide, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also contemplates a method of treating a patient suffering from fibrotic disease such as kidney and liver fibrosis and ocular scarring comprising administering to the patient the pharmaceutical composition in a therapeutically effective amount so as to thereby treat the patient. The invention also relates to treatment of fibrotic and other diseases by use of antibodies to TGase polypeptides.

Abstract: This application is directed to a process of identifying a compound capable of modulating activity of a human ENDO180 receptor that comprises the steps of measuring the binding of the ENDO180 receptor to an interactor with which the ENDO180 receptor interacts specifically in vivo, in the absence or presence of a compound, and determining whether the binding of the ENDO180 receptor to the interactor is affected by the compound. This application is also directed to use of a compound identified by that process in the preparation of a medicament for therapy of disease, in particular fibrosis. This application also relates to the use of ENDO180 modulators in treatment of disease.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process of identifying a compound capable of inhibiting the activity of a human Ax1 receptor that comprises contacting the Ax1 receptor or cells expressing the Ax1 receptor with the compound; measuring the Ax1 receptor activity in the presence of the compound; and comparing the activity measured to that measured in the absence of the compound under controlled conditions, wherein a decrease identifies the compound as being capable of inhibiting the activity. Therapeutic and diagnostic applications are also described.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process of identifying a compound capable of inhibiting the activity of a human Axl receptor that comprises contacting the Axl receptor or cells expressing the Axl receptor with the compound; measuring the Axl receptor activity in the presence of the compound; and comparing the activity measured to that measured in the absence of the compound under controlled conditions, wherein a decrease identifies the compound as being capable of inhibiting the activity. Therapeutic and diagnostic applications are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a double-stranded compound, preferably an oligoribonucleotide (siRNA), which down-regulates the expression of a human TGaseII gene at the post-transcriptional level. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, or a vector capable of expressing the oligoribonucleotide compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also contemplates a method of treating a patient suffering from a fibrotic disease such as pulmonary, kidney and liver fibrosis or ocular, scarring comprising administering to the patient the pharmaceutical composition in a therapeutically effective dose so as to thereby treat the patient. The invention also relates to treatment of fibrotic and other diseases by use of antibodies to TGaseII polypeptide.

Abstract: This application is directed to a method for the treatment of fibrosis, preferably liver fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis and cardiac fibrosis, in a subject in need of such treatment comprising administering to said subject an amount of an inhibitor of HNOEL-iso polypeptide sufficient to effect a substantial inhibition of the HNOEL-iso polypeptide so as to thereby treat the subject. This application is also directed to a process of obtaining a compound which inhibits human HNOEL-iso polypeptide. This application is also directed to use of a compound identified by that process in the preparation of a medicament for therapy of disease, in particular fibrosis, and to diagnostic aspects related to HNOEL-iso polypeptide.

Abstract: This application is directed to a process of identifying a compound capable of modulating activity of a human ENDO180 receptor that comprises the steps of measuring the binding of the ENDO180 receptor to an interactor with which the ENDO180 receptor interacts specifically in vivo, in the absence or presence of a compound, and determining whether the binding of the ENDO180 receptor to the interactor is affected by the compound. This application is also directed to use of a compound identified by that process in the preparation of a medicament for therapy of disease, in particular fibrosis. This application also relates to the use of ENDO180 modulators in treatment of disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treatment of fibrosis by identification and isolation of polynucleotide sequences, the expression of which is altered in fibrosis. The present invention also relates to the use of these isolated polynucleotides and the polypeptides encoded thereby as probes for diagnosis, for screening of treatment modalities and as targets for modulation in kidney fibrosis and in other fibrotic conditions, including ocular scarring and cataract. In particular, the present invention provides methods, compounds and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of fibrosis in general, and kidney fibrosis and related pathologies and ocular scarring and cataract in particular. Novel pharmaceutical compositions comprising oligonucleotides or antibodies are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method of diagnosing the presence of bladder cancer in a patient by analyzing a tissue sample from the patient for the presence of a least one expressed gene wherein the presence of the expressed gene is indicative of bladder cancer. Also provided by the present invention is a polynucleotide sequence whose expression is indicative of bladder cancer. A marker for bladder cancer is also provided. There are also provided methods of diagnosing bladder cancer by screening for the presence of at least one expressed gene wherein the presence of the expressed gene is indicative of bladder cancer. Methods of treating and regulating bladder cancer-associated pathologies by administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of chemical compound are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a double-stranded compound, preferably an oligoribonucleotide (siRNA), which down-regulates the expression of a human TGaseII gene at the post-transcriptional level. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, or a vector capable of expressing the oligoribonucleotide compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also contemplates a method of treating a patient suffering from a fibrotic disease such as pulmonary, kidney and liver fibrosis or ocular, scarring comprising administering to the patient the pharmaceutical composition in a therapeutically effective dose so as to thereby treat the patient. The invention also relates to treatment of fibrotic and other diseases by use of antibodies to TGaseII polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process of identifying a compound capable of inhibiting the activity of a human Ax1 receptor that comprises contacting the Ax1 receptor or cells expressing the Ax1 receptor with the compound; measuring the Ax1 receptor activity in the presence of the compound ; and comparing the activity measured to that measured in the absence of the compound under controlled conditions, wherein a decrease identifies the compound as being capable of inhibiting the activity. Therapeutic and diagnostic applications are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying clones encoding for membranal and secreted proteins by deriving probes from membrane-bound polysomes and free-polysomes, and performing a microarray-based comparison of the relative abundance of the different RNA species. Analysis of the results of such comparison and resultant identification of clones encoding for membranal or secreted proteins, provides an efficient tool for identifying targets of drug development. The present invention further provides a method of augmenting a microarray analysis by utilizing RNA extracted from specific subcellular compartments as templates for DNA probes. The method may be used together with conventional differential analysis techniques for improvement of their analysis and gene identification functions.

Abstract: A method for identifying genes regulated at the RNA level by cue-induced gene expression. The invention relates to the rapid isolation of differentially expressed or developmentally regulated gene sequences through analysis of mRNAs obtained from specific cellular compartments and comparing the changes in the relative abundance of the mRNA in these compartments as a result of applying a cue to the tested biological sample. The cellular compartments include polysomal and nonpolysomal fractions, nuclear fractions, cytoplasmic fractions, and spliceosomal fractions. Genes that are differentially expressed due to regulation on any one or more of a number of levels, may be characterized. Regulation levels include translational regulation, transcriptional regulation, mRNA stability regulation, and mRNA transport regulation.