Abstract: A method screens compounds out of the group consisting of proteins, peptides, peptidomimetics, antibodies and small organic molecules that increase the activity of the protein Rac1 by virtue of their binding to the extracellular portion of this protein. The method includes the steps of: contacting a confluent layer of cultured endothelial cells with at least one of test compounds, lysing the endothelial cells with a lysation buffer, and measuring the amount of Rac1 activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to peptides having the general formula (I), or a salt or amide thereof, wherein R1 and R2 are either the same or different, wherein R1 and R2 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residue, said residue having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein Z1 is selected from the group consisting of histidine and proline, wherein Z2 is selected from the group consisting of an arginine and a peptide comprising an initial arginine and having from 2 to 30 amino acids. The invention also relates to methods using the peptides of the present invention in the treatment of inflammation.

Abstract: The invention relates to peptides and peptide derivatives of the following general Formulas (Ia) and (Ib) as well as in particular anti-inflammatory drugs containing these peptides.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the use of a peptide comprising the N-terminal sequence Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Asp-Lys-Lys-Arg-Glu-Glu-Ala- Pro-Ser-Leu-Arg-Pro-Ala-Pro-Pro-Pro-Ile-Ser-Gly- Gly-Gly-Tyr-Arg or any allelic variant or derivative of said peptide possessing the biological property of matching the inducible VE-cadherin binding motif on the B?-chain (i.e. B?15-42) of human fibrin for the preparation of a pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of shock, more specifically of hemorrhagic shock.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a peptide of general Formula I wherein R1 and R2, being equal or different, denote hydrogen, a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon moiety comprising from 1 to 10, in particular from 1 to 3, carbon atoms, Z1 denotes a histidine or proline moiety, Z2 denotes an arginine moiety, a peptide moiety or a protein moiety comprising an initial arginine moiety, in particular comprising from 2 to 30 amino acids, which peptide has the biological property of matching the inducible VE-cadherin binding motif on the B?-chain (i.e. B?15-42) of human fibrin, for the preparation of a pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of shock.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of one or more fumaric acid derivatives as NF-kappaB inhibitor. At the same time, the present invention relates to the use of the fumaric acid derivatives for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for treating diseases that may be influenced by NF-kappaB.

Abstract: Peptides and peptide derivatives of the following general Formula I: H2H-GHRPX1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8X9X10- (I) X11PX12PPPX13X14X15X16GYR-X17, wherein: X1-X16 denote one of the 20 genetically encoded amino acids, X17 denotes OR1, with R1=hydrogen or (C1-C10-alkyl), or NR2R3, R2 and R3 being identical or different and denoting hydrogen, (C1-C10)-alkyl, or a residue -PEG5-60K, wherein the PEG-residue is linked to the N atom via a spacer, or a residue NH—Y-Z-PEG5-60K, wherein Y denotes a chemical bond or a genetically coded amino acid from among the group of S, C, K or R, and Z denotes a spacer by way of which a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-residue may be linked, as well as the physiologically acceptable salts thereof, or wherein: X15 or X16 denotes an amino acid from the group of C or K, which is linked to a residue Z-PEG5-60K via the heteroatom in the side chain, and wherein X17 denotes OR1, with R1=hydrogen or (C1-C10-alkyl), or NR2R3, R2 and R3 being identical or different and denoting hydrog

Abstract: The invention relates to peptides and peptide derivatives of the following general Formulas Ia and Ib as well as in particular anti-inflammatory drugs containing these peptides.

Abstract: The invention relates to peptides having the general formula (I), or a salt or amide thereof, wherein R1 and R2 are either the same or different, wherein R1 and R2 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residue, said residue having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein Z1 is selected from the group consisting of histidine and proline, wherein Z2 is selected from the group consisting of an arginine and a peptide comprising an initial arginine and having from 2 to 30 amino acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to peptides having the general formula (I), or a salt or amide thereof, wherein R1 and R2 are either the same or different, wherein R1 and R2 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residue, said residue having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein Z1 is selected from the group consisting of histidine and proline, wherein Z2 is selected from the group consisting of an arginine and a peptide comprising an initial arginine and having from 2 to 30 amino acids. The invention also relates to methods using the peptides of the present invention in the treatment of inflammation.

Abstract: The invention relates to peptides having the general formula (I), or a salt or amide thereof, wherein R1 and R2 are either the same or different, wherein R1 and R2 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residue, said residue having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein Z1 is selected from the group consisting of histidine and proline, wherein Z2 is selected from the group consisting of an arginine and a peptide comprising an initial arginine and having from 2 to 30 amino acids. The invention also relates to methods using the peptides of the present invention in the treatment of inflammation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of one or more fumaric acid derivatives as NF-kappaB inhibitor. At the same time, the present invention relates to the use of the fumaric acid derivatives for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for treating diseases that may be influenced by NF-kappaB.

Abstract: The present invention describes a novel immunodeficient rodent model comprising an organ graft, such as a human skin graft, said graft containing microvessels lined by endothelial cells, human T lymphocytes and, optionally, at least one agent capable of substantially depleting the rodent's Natural Killer cells. The human T lymphocytes are engrafted and circulating in the animal's blood, enabling interaction with the endothelial cells which can be allogenic to the donor for the skin graft. The immunodeficient rodent used can be a SCID mouse. Preferably, the endothelial cells are provided by grafting said human skin with an intact dermal superficial vascular plexus. This immunodeficient rodent can be used as a model for studying inflammatory human immune responses of the engrafted T lymphocytes to foreign antigen as well as for studying human allograft rejection, e.g. human microvessel destruction and the T cell-endothelial cell in vivo interactions associated with a human allograft rejection.