Abstract: It is described a nucleotide sequence and a corresponding protein for which a role and utility in the regulation of programmed cell death or apoptosis are defined. Applications and uses of the sequence and corresponding protein concern all the physiologic and pathologic processes that involve cell death (neoplasias, degenerative diseases, tissue infarcts, autoimmune diseases, differentiation processes, etc.).

Abstract: The combination of an interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonist and an antiproliferative drug is described. In its preferred embodiment, the present invention describes the combination of an IL-6 superantagonist, particularly a superantagonist totally incapable of binding gp130 and an antiproliferative drug belonging to the glucocorticoid class (SANT-7 and dexamethasone). The combination according to the present invention has shown surprising synergism in an animal model of multiple myeloma and the ability to overcome the resistance to the antiproliferative drug developed by myeloid cells. The combination according to the present invention is useful for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of tumours, particularly IL-6-dependent tumours.

Abstract: It is described a nucleotide sequence and a corresponding protein for which a role and utility in the regulation of programmed cell death or apoptosis are defined. Applications and uses of the sequence and corresponding protein concern all the physiologic and pathologic processes that involve cell death (neoplasias, degenerative diseases, tissue infarcts, autoimmune diseases, differentiation processes, etc.).

Abstract: This invention provides a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of purified human interleukin-2 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Interleukin 2 (IL 2; T-cell growth factor), produced with and without costimulation by Burkitt's lymphoma line Daudi, is highly purified approximately over 37,000-fold to apparent homogeneity from lymphocyte-conditioned medium derived from normal human blood cells by (NH.sub.4).sub.2 SO.sub.4 -precipitation, ion-exchange chromatogrThis invention was made with support in part under Grants CA 08748, CA 22507, CA 25608, CA 20194, CA 21525, CA31525, P01-CA-20194, AI 18 321-01, CA 23766 and CA 33050 awarded by the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, DHEW. The government has certain rights in this invention.

Abstract: Interleukin 2 (IL 2; T-cell growth factor), produced with and without costimulation by Burkitt's lymphoma line Daudi, is highly purified approximately over 37,000-fold to apparent homogeneity from lymphocyte-conditioned medium derived from normal humaThis invention was made with support in part under Grants CA 08748, CA 22507, CA 25608, CA 20194, CA 21525, CA 31525, P01-CA-20194, AI 18 321-01, CA 23766 and CA 33050 awarded by the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, DHEW. The government has certain rights in this invention.

Abstract: Interleukin 2 (IL 2; T-cell growth factor), produced with and without costimulation by Burkitt's lymphoThis invention was made with support in part under Grants CA 08748, CA 22507, CA 25608, CA 20194, CA 21525, CA31525, PO1-CA-20194, AI 18 321-01, CA 23766 and CA 33050 awarded by the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, DHEW. The government has certain rights in this invention.

Abstract: Interleukin 2 (IL 2; T-cell growth factor), produced with and without costimulation by Burkitt's lymphoma line Daudi, is highly purified approximately over 37,000-fold to apparent homogeneity from lymphocyte-conditioned medium derived from normal human blood cells by (NH.sub.4).sub.2 SO.sub.4 -precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration and hydrophobic chromatography. hp IL-2 is free of pyrogens, B cell inducing factor, B cell growth factor, interferon, CSF, and thymocyte differentiating factor. Nature IL 2 produced in the absence of Daudi cells has a molecular weight of about 26,000 daltons as measured by gel filtration and yields IL 2 having two molecular weights of about 16,000 and 17,000 daltons after denaturation as measured by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. IL 2 produced in the presence of Daudi cells shows a molecular weight of approximately 14,500 daltons as measured by both gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.