摘要:
This disclosure provides materials and methods for treating or preventing graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) using protein C or activated protein C or a signaling-selective variant or mutant thereof.
摘要:
Variants (mutants) of recombinant activated protein C (APC) or recombinant protein C (prodrug, capable of being converted to APC) that have substantial reductions in anticoagulant activity but that retain normal levels of anti-apoptotic activity are provided. Three examples of such recombinant APC mutants are KKK191-193AAA-APC, RR229/230AA-APC, and RR229/230AA plus KKK191-193AAA-APC. APC variants and prodrugs of the invention have the desirable property of being cytoprotective (anti-apoptotic effects), while having significantly reduced risk of bleeding. The invention also provides a method of using the APC variants or prodrugs of the invention to treat subjects who will benefit from APC's cytoprotective activities that are independent of APC's anticoagulant activity. These subjects include patients at risk of damage to blood vessels or tissue in various organs caused, at least in part, by apoptosis. At risk patients include, for example, those suffering (severe) sepsis, ischemia/reperfusion injury, ischemic stroke, acute myocardial infarction, acute or chronic neurodegenerative diseases, or those undergoing organ transplantation or chemotherapy, among other conditions. Methods of screening for variants of recombinant protein C or APC that are useful in accordance with the invention are also provided.
摘要:
Protein S is a significant neuroprotectant when administered after focal ischemic stroke and prevents hypoxic/re-oxygenation injury. Purified human plasma-derived or recombinant protein S improves motor neurological function after stroke, and reduced brain infarction and edema. Protein S also enhances post-ischemic reperfusion and reduced brain fibrin and neutrophil deposition. Cortical neurons are protected from hypoxia/re-oxygenation-induced apoptosis. Thus, protein S and variants thereof are prototypes of a class of agents for preventing injury of the nervous system. In particular, a disease or other pathological condition (e.g., stroke) may be treated with such agents having one or more protein S activities (e.g., anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory activities, direct cellular neuronal protective effects) although the latter activities are not be required.
摘要:
Recombinant activated protein C (APC) and APC variants with reduced anticoagulant activity were used to reduce mortality in murine models of sepsis. These models included endotoxemia and bacteremia models. We discovered that single or multiple bolus doses of APC, especially of APC variants such as RR230/231AA-APC, KKK192-194AAA-APC and 5A-APC (containing the combination of mutations present in the first two APC variants) given as a single bolus reduces 7-day mortality of mice given lethal doses of endotoxin. Administrations of a single bolus of 5A-APC after the initiation of sepsis also reduces mortality caused by LPS. 5A-APC with ≦8% of normal anticoagulant activity (which has reduced risk of bleeding) reduces mortality when given as two bolus administrations at 3 hours and then at 10 hours after initiation of bacterial infection, i.e. after onset of sepsis. This shows, first, that one or more bolus injections of APC or of APC variants, especially 5A-APC, can reduce mortality when given beginning hours after the onset of sepsis and, second, that it is not necessary to administer APC as a continuous infusion which is the current standard of practice because one or more bolus administrations can reduce mortality. Furthermore, dosages of approximately 0.06 to 0.4 mg/kg of APC and APC variants are identified to be sufficient to reduce mortality in sepsis.
摘要:
This invention relates to novel multibinding compounds (agents) that are antibacterial agents. The multibinding compounds of the invention comprise from 2-10 ligands covalently connected by a linker or linkers, wherein each of said ligands in their monovalent (i.e., unlinked) state have the ability to bind to a an enzyme involved in cell wall biosynthesis and metabolism, a precursor used in the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall and/or the bacterial cell surface thereby interfere with the synthesis and/or metabolism of the cell wall. In particular the multibinding compounds of the invention comprise from 2-10 ligands covalently connected by a linker or linkers, wherein each of said ligands has a ligand domain capable of binding to penicillin binding proteins, a transpeptidase enzyme, a substrate of a transpeptidase enzyme, a beta-lactamase enzyme, pencillinase enzyme, cephalosporinase enzyme, a transglycoslase enzyme, or a transglycosylase enzyme substrate; Preferably, the ligands are selected from the beta lactam or glycopeptide class of antibacterial agents.
摘要:
The present invention relates to methods of introducing one or more cysteine residues into a polypeptide which permit the stabilization of the polypeptide by formation of at least one bond, preferably a disulfide bond, between different domains of the polypeptide. The invention also relates to polypeptides containing such introduced cysteine residue(s), nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such polypeptides or nucleic acids. The invention also relates to vectors, viral particles and host cells containing such nucleic acids, and methods of using them to produce the polypeptides of the invention. Exemplified polypeptides include plasma proteins, including hepatocyte growth factor activator and plasma hyaluronin binding protein, as well as blood coagulation factors, such as Factor VIII, Factor V, Factor XII and prothrombin.
摘要:
The present invention provides an in vitro method useful for the diagnosis of a thrombotic disorder in a subject, having or at risk of having the disorder. Specifically, the disorder exemplified herein is associated with APC resistant Factor V and Va. The clotting time of a test sample is analyzed in the presence and absence of APC and compared with a standard reference sample in order to diagnose the subject.
摘要:
The compounds of this invention comprise 2-10 ligands covalently connected, each of the ligands being capable of binding to a ligand binding site in a Na+ channel, thereby modulating the biological activities thereof.
摘要:
The present invention provides an in vitro method useful for the diagnosis of a thrombotic disorder in a subject, having or at risk of having the disorder. Specifically, the disorder exemplified herein is associated with APC resistant Factor V and Va. The clotting time of a test sample is analyzed in the presence and absence of APC and compared with a standard reference sample in order to diagnose the subject.
摘要:
The present invention provides novel PAR 1 derived cytoprotective oligopeptides or polypeptides which typically contain at least the first 4 N-terminal residues that are substantially identical to the corresponding N-terminal residues of Met1-Arg46 deleted human PAR 1 sequence. These cytoprotective oligopeptides or polypeptides are capable of activating PAR 1 and promoting PAR 1 cytoprotective signaling activities. The invention also provides engineered cells or transgenic non-human animals which harbor in their genome an altered PAR 1 gene that is resistant to cleavage at Arg41 and/or Arg46 residues. Additionally provided in the invention are methods of screening candidate compounds to identity additional cytoprotective compounds or cytoprotective proteases. The invention further provides therapeutic use or methods of employing a PAR 1 derived cytoprotective oligopeptide or polypeptide to treat conditions associated with tissue injuries or undesired apoptosis.