Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides, peptide analogs and peptide derivatives related to platelet factor 4 which exhibit anti-inflammatory activity, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said peptides, and to methods of inhibiting inflammation utilizing the peptides of the invention.

Abstract: A method of making a platelet releasate product is disclosed involving performing an assay on a platelet releasate sample for a component of the releasate and forming platelet releasate product by comparing the assay results to a predetermined range of amounts of the component to be contained in the product. A method of treatment of tissue is disclosed involving the topical application of such product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inducing myocardial cell proliferation. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that adult human myocardial cells may be induced to proliferate in culture by exposure to a platelet freeze/thaw extract. The present invention provides for a method for inducing myocardial cell proliferation in vitro, as well as for myocardial cell cultures produced by this method. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides for human myocardial cell cultures. The myocardial cell cultures of the invention may be used to study the physiology of cardiac muscle. In addition, they may be used to identify pharmaceutical agents that may be useful in the treatment of heart disease or, alternatively, agents that are cardiotoxic. Furthermore, the cultures of the invention may be used to provide myocardial cells that may be transplanted or implanted in a patient that suffers from a cardiac disorder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides and peptide derivatives related to platelet factor 4 which exhibit angiogenic activity, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said peptides, and to methods for promoting angiogenesis utilizing said peptides. It is based, in part, on the discovery that an octapeptide derived from platelet factor 4 and seven structurally related peptides (depicted in FIG. 1) are capable of inducing an angiogenic response in vivo as measured by neovascularization in rabbit corneal implant assay and by measurement of capillary endothelial cell chemoattraction. The angiogenic peptides of the invention may be particularly useful in promoting wound healing, including incisional healing, bone repair, burn healing, and post-infarction repair in myocardial injury, and in facilitating the assimilation of grafted tissues, particularly in persons suffering from vascular insufficiency, such as diabetic patients.