Abstract: The invention is directed to a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence substantially as denoted by SEQ ID NO:1 and biologically functional homologues and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating systemic lupus erythematosus in a mammalian subject, comprising administering to said subject an effective dose of at least one laminin peptide, or an analog or a derivative thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the laminin peptide is selected from the group consisting of R38 (SEQ. ID. NO. 1), and claimed R38 analogs and derivatives thereof including 5200 (SEQ. ID. NO. 10), 5104 (SEQ. ID. NO. 15), 5105 (SEQ. ID. NO. 16), 5106 (SEQ. ID. NO. 17), 5107 (SEQ. ID. NO. 18), 5108 (SEQ. ID. NO. 19), 5109 (SEQ. ID. NO. 20), 5110 (SEQ. ID. NO. 21). The laminin peptides of the present invention may be prepared by known chemical synthetic methods or by biotechnological methods. The invention also provides assays useful for the diagnosis of and following pathological activity course of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients suffering therefrom.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating systemic lupus erythematosus in a mammalian subject, comprising administering to said subject an effective dose of at least one laminin peptide, or an analog or a derivative thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the laminin peptide is selected from the group consisting of R38, and claimed R38 analogs and derivatives thereof including 5200, 5104, 5105, 5106, 5107, 5108, 5109, and 5110. The laminin peptides of the present invention may be prepared by known chemical synthetic methods or by biotechnological methods. Assays useful for the diagnosis of and following pathological activity course of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients suffering therefrom.

Abstract: The invention provides an immunoassay reagent for the binding and detection of antibodies found in the urine of lupus disease patients, comprising extracellular matrix.

Abstract: Heparanase activity in a patient may be inhibited by administering an effective heparanase-inhibiting amount of heparin or an effective chemically modified derivative of heparin which inhibits heparanase activity. Such derivatives are preferably N-desulfated, N-acetylated heparin or O-desulfated, N-acetylated heparin. By means of this invention, allograft rejection may be prevented or delayed and autoimmune diseases such as arthritis may be alleviated and treated.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions intended to decrease the incidence of tumor metastasis in patients who suffer from malignant diseases.The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention contain as active ingredient heparin or a suitable derivative thereof. Amongst suitable derivatives are N-desulfated and N-acetylated heparin.The dosage of the administered heparin or heparin derivative is quite critical and will generally be in the range of from 0.05 mg/kg/day to about 0.5 mg/kg/day. A preferred range is between about 0.1 mg/kg/day to about 0.5 mg/kg/day.