Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods reduce levels of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators in blood by selective adsorption. The devices, systems, and methods are useful in situations where abnormal levels of or unregulated or excessive interaction among pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators occur, or during events that do induce or have the potential for inducing abnormal production of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators. The devices, systems, and methods serve to prevent, control, reduce, or alleviate the severity of the inflammatory response and disease states that are associated with abnormal levels of or unregulated or excessive interaction among pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators.

Abstract: Intravenous, or indwelling, or integrated multi-functional devices and systems reduce levels of a targeted compound in blood by selective adsorption. The devices and systems can be used, e.g., to reduce levels of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators in blood by selective adsorption. The devices and systems are useful in situations where abnormal levels of or unregulated or excessive interaction among pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators occur, or during events that do induce or have the potential for inducing abnormal production of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators. The devices and systems serve to prevent, control, reduce, or alleviate the severity of the inflammatory response and disease states that are associated with abnormal levels of or unregulated or excessive interaction among pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators.

Abstract: There are provided uses of an antibody directed to CX3CR1 and fractalkine. Killer lymphocytes can be readily identified, eliminated and separated by using an anti-CX3CR1 antibody. Further, there can be provided an antibody drug for suppressing chemotaxis and cytotoxic activity of killer lymphocytes by suppressing an interaction between CX3CR1 and fractalkine.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method to diminish the pre-existing immune response to the administration of a therapeutic virus by the selective elimination of antiviral antibodies from the serum. The present invention provides a chromatographic material for the elimination of such antibodies. The invention further provides plasmapheresis apparatus comprising this material. The invention further provides methods for the employment of such apparatus as part of therapeutic treatment regiments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibody composition that are useful in preparing enriched cell preparations such as human hematopoietic progenitor cells and stem cells and non-hematopoietic tumor cells. The invention also relates to kits for carrying out the processes and to the cell preparations prepared by the processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an antibody composition which contains antibodies specific for glycophorin A, CD2, CD3, CD14, CD15, CD16, CD19, CD24, CD56, CD66b and IgE antigens. A negative selection process is also provided for use on blood and bone marrow samples from a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia to recover cell preparations depleted of lineage committed cells. The invention also relates to kits for carrying out this process and to the cell preparations prepared by the process.

Abstract: An efficient method for therapeutic treatment of a leukemic patient is disclosed in which the patient's body fluid under external circulation is brought into direct contact with an adsorbent material capable of adsorbing the leukemic cells in the body fluid specifically and selectively. The leukemic cell-adsorbent material, which is used by filling a column to form an adsorbent bed, is a conjugate of a lectin protein extracted from, e.g., Dolichos beans or soybeans coupled with a physiologically inert carrier material such as a polysaccharide in the form of beads or a superparamagnetic material in the form of iron oxide-based magnetic beads.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand for bacterial toxins, particularly entero- or exotoxins of gram-positive bacteria, which is capable of selective interaction with a structure containing an amino acid sequence conserved in the bacterial toxins. The invention also relates to an adsorbent that exhibits the ligand bound to a matrix, an adsorption device for reducing the concentration of bacterial toxins in blood or blood plasma as well as a pharmaceutical composition, which contains the ligands, and which is suitable in particular for the treatment and/or prevention of gram-positive sepsis.

Abstract: A method and device for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) is disclosed. The method involves the removal of circulating autoantibodies of a biochemical marker or markers, specifically human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), in bodily fluid, preferably blood or a blood product. The invention further includes a device or process of immune system modulation effective for autoantibody removal.

Abstract: An adsorbent of high-mobility-group proteins (HMG protein) which can remove HMG protein in body fluid is disclosed. The adsorbent according to the present invention comprises a water-insoluble carrier on which (a) substance(s) having (a) hydrogen-bondable functional group(s) and/or (a) hydrophobic functional group(s) is(are) immobilized.

Abstract: The present invention provides endotoxin-binding peptides which are useful in the treatment and prevention of sepsis. The present invention further provides a method for treating or preventing sepsis comprising administration of the compounds of the present invention.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods reduce levels of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators in blood by selective adsorption. The devices, systems, and methods are useful in situations where abnormal levels of or unregulated or excessive interaction among pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators occur, or during events that do induce or have the potential for inducing abnormal production of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators. The devices, systems, and methods serve to prevent, control, reduce, or alleviate the severity of the inflammatory response and disease states that are associated with abnormal levels of or unregulated or excessive interaction among pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators.

Abstract: A method for the conditioning of an extracorporeal device is described, as well as a method for extracorporeal extraction of toxic material from mammalian body fluids in connection with diagnosis or treatment of a mammalian condition or disease, in which methods reagents having the ability to extract toxic material from mammalian body fluids are involved, and an extracorporeal device comprising said reagent.

Abstract: Provided is a method for loading dendritic cells ex vivo which utilizes immune complex-mediated uptake of a soluble antigen by dendritic cells. The method involves coculturing target cells in the presence of, but not in physical contact with, expanded dendritic cells. Added to the coculture is human antibody against the soluble antigen(s), resulting in formation of immune complexes. The immune complexes bind to, and are uptaken by, the expanded dendritic cells; and with subsequent processing of the antigen into peptides, the peptide is presented as part of a peptide-MHC complex on the dendritic cell surface. The method of the present invention allows for dendritic cell presentation by MHCI and/or MHCII complexes, depending on the nature of the one or more antigens.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for reducing circulating levels of antibodies, particularly disease-associated antibodies. The methods entail administering effective amounts of epitope-presenting carriers to an individual. In other embodiments, ex vivo methods for reducing circulating levels of antibodies are provided which employ epitope-presenting carriers.

Abstract: Ligands that interact with a target, such as one present on a virus, can be more easily identified if false positive interactions (either specific or non-specific) are differentiated from the target-specific interaction. An improved method for screening a library of surface-immobilized ligands which bind to a target is presented. The method can be used for multiple screenings of the same surface-immobilized library for a number of different ligands.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method to diminish the pre-existing immune response to the administration of a therapeutic virus by the selective elimination of antiviral antibodies from the serum. The present invention provides a chromatographic material for the elimination of such antibodies. The invention further provides plasmapheresis apparatus comprising this material. The invention further provides methods for the employment of such apparatus as part of therapeutic treatment regiments.

Abstract: A system for treating serious infections and sepsis caused by infections by withdrawing blood from a patient, passing the withdrawn blood through a particulate hemocompatible polymer material for removing toxins, and returning the blood from which the toxins have been removed back to the patient, the system comprising the particulate hemocompatible material which includes a first group of macroporous particles which are hydrophobic and positively charged so as to provide adherence of endotoxin to an inner surface of particles of the first group, and also a second group of mesoporous particles which are hydrophobic and are not charged and have a pore size selected so that cytokines and superantigens adhere to an inner surface of the particles of the second group.

Abstract: A method of treating serious infections and sepsis includes withdrawing blood from a patient, passing the withdrawn blood through a hemocompatible particulate polymeric material which includes a first group of particles which are charged so as to provide adherence of endotoxin to the hydrophobic inner surface of particles of the first group, and also a second group of particles which are not charged and have a pore size selected so that cytokines and superantigens adhere to the hydrophobic inner surface of particles of the second group, and thereafter returning the blood to the patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enhancing an immune response in a mammal to facilitate the elimination of a chronic pathology. The method involves the removal of immune system inhibitors from the circulation of the mammal, thus, enabling a more vigorous immune response to the pathogenic agent. The removal of immune system inhibitors is accomplished by contacting biological fluids of a mammal with one or more binding partner(s) capable of binding to and, thus, depleting the targeted immune system inhibitor(s) from the biological fluids. Particularly useful in the invention is an absorbent matrix composed of an inert, biocompatible substrate joined covalently to a binding partner, such as an antibody, capable of specifically binding to the targeted immune system inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, methods of removing virus from a sample, a composition comprising a solid support matrix to which is attached a cyanovirin, a conjugate comprising a cyanovirin coupled to at least one effector component, a composition comprising such a conjugate, methods of inhibiting prophylactically or therapeutically a viral infection of a host, and a matrix-anchored anti-cyanovirin antibody.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting HIV infection of cells susceptible to HIV infection. The method comprises contacting such cells with an agent (such as an anti-CD44 antibody) that inhibits CD44-facilitated HIV infection of the cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, methods of removing virus from a sample, a composition comprising a solid support matrix to which is attached a cyanovirin, a conjugate comprising a cyanovirin coupled to at least one effector component, a composition comprising such a conjugate, methods of inhibiting prophylactically or therapeutically a viral infection of a host, and a matrix-anchored anti-cyanovirin antibody.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for treating prostate cancer are provided. The inventive compounds include polypeptides containing at least a portion of a prostate tumor protein. Vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for immunotherapy of prostate cancer comprising such polypeptides, or DNA molecules encoding such polypeptides, are also provided, together with DNA molecules for preparing the inventive polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a porcine antigen that binds to human xenoreactive antibodies. The porcine antigen differs from the known porcine xenoantigens in that the antigen does not include an &agr;Gal epitope. The present invention also provides methods to purify the porcine antigen of the invention, as well as agents that bind to the antigen. The antigen may be used to generate antibodies against the antigen. The antigen is useful for detecting the presence of human xenoreactive antibodies against the antigen in blood and blood compositions, and antibodies against the antigen may be used to detect the presence of the antigen in samples. The invention also provides methods and pharmaceutical compositions for reducing a host rejection response to a porcine xenograft. Finally, a method to treat human blood or blood-derived compositions to reduce the level of human xenoantibodies is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for modulating an immune response in a patient by modulating the circulating levels of CD36 ligands. In particular, an extracorporeal apheresis method is described which can be used to modulate the levels of CD36 ligands in the bloodstream of a patient in need of immunotherapy.

Abstract: Methods of reducing pre-existing humoral immunity to a viral immunogenic therapeutic agent such as adenovirus, using immunoapheresis are disclosed. Antibodies specific for the viral immunogenic therapeutic agent are selectively removed from the blood of an individual prior to administration of the viral immunogenic therapeutic agent by reaction extracorporeally with an immunosorbent which specifically binds the antibody. After the antibody is selectively removed from the blood, the blood is reinfused into the patient and the viral immunogenic therapeutic agent is administered. The invention also provides kits and compositions for selective removal of anti-viral antibody.

Abstract: This invention relates to a natural killer cell line termed NK-92. The invention provides a vector for transfecting a mammalian cell which includes a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cytokine that promotes the growth of NK-92. Additionally, the invention provides an NK-92 cell, or an NK-92 cell modified by transfection with a vector conferring advantageous properties, which is unable to proliferate and which preserves effective cytotoxic activity. The invention further provides a modified NK-92 cell that is transfected with a vector encoding a cytokine that promotes the growth of NK-92 cells. The cell secretes the cytokine upon being cultured under conditions that promote cytokine secretion, and furthermore secretes the cytokine in vivo upon being introduced into a mammal. In a significant embodiment, the cytokine is interleukin 2.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an enterotoxin adsorbent comprising a compound having a log P (P denotes a partition coefficient in an octanol-water system) value of not less than 2.50 as immobilized on a water-insoluble carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a selected cell population from blood or a blood component includes a container, a plurality of particles having a reactant that binds to a selected cell population and a separating device for separating the selected cell population from the blood or blood component. The particles have a density that allows gravity settling of the particles through the blood or blood component. The separating device can include a device for compressing the container, a magnet or a filter, for example. The apparatus can also include a mixing device for mixing the particles with the blood or blood component. The reactant bound to the particles can include an antibody or antibody fragment, such as lectin or a lectin fragment.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes human antibodies to identify and produce antigen preparations that are particularly useful for the detection, diagnosis, prognosis or prevention of human etiological agents or human disease states or conditions. The present invention provides a variety of aspects, including antigenic preparations, antibody preparations, methods of making such preparations and methods of using such preparations.

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: Methods for detecting human parvovirus B19 in and removing it from biological samples such as blood are disclosed, together with reagents suitable for the purpose comprising binding moieties that recognize human parvovirus B19 and/or B19-like polypeptide and form a binding complex therewith. Preferred polypeptide binding moieties are particularly disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interactive system comprising at least one active surface of plastic from monomers containing at least one structural element derived from a carbon dioxide (A), and at least one substance associated to a linker with at least one structural element (B) capable of establishing a hydrogen bond, and involving an interaction between the structural elements (A) and (B). That interactive system is suitable for presenting and eliminating substances in liquids.

Abstract: An antigen/antibody specificity exchanger is disclosed. It comprises: A) an amino-acid sequence corresponding to an amino-acid sequence of an antibody which specifically binds to a certain antigen, including hapten, B) linked by a link to C) an amino-acid sequence to which a certain antibody binds. Also, a diagnostic reagent comprising an antigen/antibody specificity exchanger according to the invention is disclosed. Said reagent may be e.g. used instead of antisera or monoclonal antibodies in in vitro testing systems, such as immunological tests. Further, a method of treating a disease or disorder caused by a known antigen in an individual in need of an increased number of antigen-specific antibodies is disclosed. In the method a tailor-made antigen/antibody specificity exchanger of the invention is issued. Said method may be e.g. used to redirect a patient's antibodies against poliovirus to fight HIV infection in said patient.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that certain membranes, which include side chains or molecular “brushes” having, for example, tertiary amino functional groups, can be used as highly effective filters to capture viruses/virus particles from liquids without removal of proteins. New methods based on this discovery include removing viruses from liquids such as blood or plasma, removing viruses from pharmaceuticals, concentrating and/or purifying viruses, e.g., for use in gene therapy, and producing recombinant viruses in new bioreactors. The invention also includes new methods of therapy or adjunct therapy for viral infections, in which a patient's blood or plasma is filtered through the membranes to remove viruses to reduce the viral load. The invention also includes new bioreactors and viral filters containing the membranes.

Abstract: Compositions comprising porcine retinal cells and methods for using the compositions to treat retinal disorders are described. The porcine retinal cells are preferably fetal neural retina cells or retinal pigment epithelial cells. The porcine retinal cells can be modified to be suitable for transplantation into a xenogeneic subject, such as a human. For example, the porcine retinal cells can be modified such that an antigen (e.g., an MHC class I antigen) on the cell surface which is capable of stimulating an immune response against the cell in a xenogeneic subject is altered (e.g., by contact with an anti-MHC class I antibody, or a fragment or derivative thereof) to inhibit rejection of the cell when introduced into the subject. In one embodiment, the porcine retinal cells are obtained from a pig predetermined to be free from organisms which originate in pig and which are capable of transmitting infection or disease to the recipient subject.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of treating bacteremia, sepsis and other forms of toxemia caused by Gram-positive bacteria and mycobacteria comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of anti-CD14 antibody molecules. A therapeutic composition comprising anti-CD14 antibody molecules in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient is also contemplated.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for reducing circulating levels of antibodies, particularly disease-associated antibodies. The methods entail administering effective amounts of epitope-presenting carriers to an individual. In other embodiments, ex vivo methods for reducing circulating levels of antibodies are provided which employ epitope-presenting carriers.

Abstract: A method and a system is described for reducing non-target levels of specific molecules intended for diagnostic and/or therapeutic applications to vertebrate hosts, wherein said molecules are administered to a vertebrate host and kept therein for a certain time in order to be concentrate to the target by being attached thereto. The molecules which are not attached to the target are removed from the blood circulation system or at least reduced to a lower concentration by passing the blood through an extra-corporeal device.

Abstract: A method to treat cancer uses ultrapheresis, refined to remove compounds of less than 120,000 daltons molecular weight, followed by administration of replacement fluid, to stimulate the patient's immune system to attack solid tumors. In the preferred embodiment, the patient is ultrapheresed using a capillary tube ultrafilter having a pore size of 0.02 to 0.05 microns, with a molecular weight cutoff of 120,000 daltons, sufficient to filter one blood volume. The preferred replacement fluid is ultrapheresed normal plasma. The patient is preferably treated daily for three weeks, diagnostic tests conducted to verify that there has been shrinkage of the tumors, then the treatment regime is repeated. The treatment is preferably combined with an alternative therapy, for example, treatment with an anti-angiogenic compound, one or more cytokines such as TNF, gamma interferon, or IL-2, or a procoagulant compound. The treatment increases endogenous, local levels of cytokines, such as TNF.