Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods of constructing an integrated artificial immune system that comprises appropriate in vitro cellular and tissue constructs or their equivalents to mimic the normal tissues that interact with vaccines in mammals. The artificial immune system can be used to test the efficacy of vaccine candidates in vitro and thus, is useful to accelerate vaccine development and testing drug and chemical interaction with the immune system.
Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to a population of cells genetically modified to express a detectable marker of fenestration and uses thereof. The cells of the present invention are useful in a wide variety of applications, in particular in the context of in vitro based screening systems for testing the effectiveness and/or toxicity of potential therapeutic or prophylactic treatment regimes.
Abstract:
Methods for the detection, enumeration and analysis of circulating tumor cells expressing insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors (IGF-1R) are disclosed. These methods are useful for cancer screening and staging, development of treatment regimens, and for monitoring for treatment responses, cancer recurrence or the like. Test kits that facilitate the detection, enumeration and analysis of such circulating tumor cells are also provided.
Abstract:
A novel methodology for diagnosing and treating gastroesophageal reflux disease is provided. These methodologies are based on the discovery of a new disease mechanism called hereinafter "reflux carditis", which is a novel mechanistic view of reflux disease that recognizes cardiac mucosa, which has heretofore been regarded as a normal epithelium in the stomach and an abnormal epithelium in the esophagus, as an abnormal mucosa in both the esophagus and stomach.
Abstract:
GAT2 is consistently expressed at high levels in brain microvessel endothelial cells. Disclosed herein are assays for determining whether a test material/molecule is a substrate for, and/or is actively transported by, the GAT2 transporter, and therefore a candidate substrate for crossing the blood brain barrier. The assays are useful in screening for therapeutic, cytotoxic or imaging compounds used in the treatment or diagnosis of neurological diseases.
Abstract:
OCT3 is consistently expressed at high levels in brain microvessel endothelial cells. Disclosed herein are assays for determining whether a test material/molecule is a substrate for, and/or is actively transported by, the OCT3 transporter, and therefore a candidate substrate for crossing the blood brain barrier. The assays are useful in screening for therapeutic, cytotoxic or imaging compounds used in the treatment or diagnosis of neurological diseases.
Abstract:
OCTN2 is consistently expressed at high levels in brain microvessel endothelial cells. Disclosed herein are assays for determining whether a test material/molecule is a substrate for, and/or is actively transported by, the OCTN2 transporter, and therefore a candidate substrate for crossing the blood brain barrier. The assays are useful in screening for therapeutic, cytotoxic or imaging compounds used in the treatment or diagnosis of neurological diseases.
Abstract:
There is disclosed herein subunits and multimers of subunits suitable for use in inducing the transport of one or more cargo substances into a cell and in some instances across a cell. The subunits may have a targeting domain such as an antibody or antibody fragment, a multimerization domain, such as a verotoxin B-subunit mutant scaffold, and a cargo molecule such as a drug or imaging agent, which may be directly linked to the subunit or may be packaged in a liposome, nanoparticle, or the like. In some instances the targeting domain may have affinity for a blood-brain barrier antigen and may be capable of inducing cell mediated transcytosis to facilitate delivery of the cargo molecule across the blood-brain barrier. In some instances the targeting region may have affinity for a cancer antigen and may be capable of inducing cell-mediated endocytosis.
Abstract:
CAT1 is consistently expressed at high levels in brain microvessel endothelial cells. Disclosed herein are assays for determining whether a test material/molecule is a substrate for, and/or is actively transported by, the CAT1 transporter, and therefore a candidate substrate for crossing the blood brain barrier. The assays are useful in screening for therapeutic, cytotoxic or imaging compounds used in the treatment or diagnosis of neurological diseases.
Abstract:
The present application is related to immortalized human endothelial cells that maintain the main phenotypic characteristics of the primary cells from which they derive and express one or more TEM markers, in an up- regulated way with respect to said primary cells.