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: 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 said antigen or peptide, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a central nervous system-derived heat stable immune privilege factor which exerts an inhibitory effect on macrophage migration and/or macrophage phagocytic activity. In addition, the factor exerts an inhibitory effect on the ability of macrophages and T cells to adhere to extracellular matrix and/or fibronectin. The invention is also directed to the isolation and methods for use of this immune privilege factor for the inhibition of inflammation in the central nervous system generally and at specific lesions in the central nervous system.

Abstract: A biomedical system for targeted delivery of a therapeutic agent to a tissue region of a subject is provided. The biomedical system comprises: (a) a biomedical device including: (i) a device body designed and configured for implantation within the tissue region of the subject; and (ii) a first member of a binding pair attached to a surface of said device body; and (b) a delivery vehicle including: (i) a carrier particle designed for carrying the therapeutic agent; (ii) a second member of said binding pair attached to said carrier particle, said second member of said binding pair being capable of specifically interacting with said first member of said binding pair thereby enabling targeting of said delivery vehicle to said biomedical device when implanted within said tissue region.

Abstract: The present invention discloses compositions and methods for the treatment of injury or disease of the nervous system CNS. In a particular embodiment, the invention provides methods of treatment using non-recombinant activated antiself T-cells that recognize an antigen of the NS or a peptide derived therefrom or a derivative thereof to promote nerve regeneration or to prevent or inhibit axonal degeneration within the NS. The invention also provides methods of treatment using a NS-specific antigen or peptide derived therefrom or a derivative thereof or a nucleotide sequence encoding said antigen or peptide to promote nerve regeneration or to prevent or inhibit axonal degeneration in NS, i.e., the CNS and/or PNS. The NS-specific antiself activated T-cells may be administered alone or in combination with NS-specific antigen or peptide derived therefrom or a derivative thereof or a nucleotide sequence encoding said antigen or peptide or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Compositions and methods to promote nerve regeneration or to confer neuroprotection and prevent or inhibit neuronal degeneration within the nervous system, eiteher 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 said antigen or peptide, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to peptides of the formulas (i) Xaa-Yaa-Arg, wherein either Xaa is any amino acid residue and Yaa is Glu or Xaa is absent and Yaa is any amino acid residue with the exception of Pro; (ii) Arg-Yaa-Xaa, wherein either Xaa is any amino acid residue and Yaa is Glu or Xaa is absent and Yaa is any amino acid residue with the exception of Asn; (iii) Xaa-Arg-Yaa, wherein Xaa is any amino acid residue and Yaa is Glu; and (iv) Yaa-Arg-Xaa, wherein Xaa is any amino acid residue and Yaa is Glu, and to derivatives thereof, which exert an inhibitory effect on macrophage migration and/or macrophage phagocytic activity. In addition, the peptides and derivatives thereof exert an inhibitory effect on the ability of macrophages and T cells to adhere to extracellular matrix and/or fibronectin. The peptides and derivatives thereof exert an inhibitory effect on a humoral and/or cellular immune response.