Abstract:
Specific binding members, particularly antibodies and fragments thereof, which bind to HLA-B27 heavy-chain homodimers, termed HC-B27, HLA-B272 or B272, particularly recognizing B272 homodimers and which do not recognize or bind HLA-B27 heterotrimers (B27) including HLA-B27 heterotrimers with ß2 microglobulin and peptide. These antibodies are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of HLA-B27 mediated conditions, particularly those associated with B272, the spondylarthritides, a group of related diseases including ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and reactive arthritis (ReA or Reiter's syndrome). The antibodies, variable regions or CDR domain sequences thereof, and fragments thereof of the present invention may also be used in therapy in combination with chemotherapeutics, immune modulators, anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs and/or with other antibodies or fragments thereof. Antibodies of this type are exemplified by the novel antibodies HD4, HD5 and HD6 whose sequences are provided herein.
Abstract:
Specific binding members, particularly antibodies and fragments thereof, which bind to transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGF-β3) are provided, particularly recognizing human and mouse TGF-β3, particularly antibodies and fragments that do not recognize or bind TGF-β1 or TGF-β2. Particular antibodies are provided which specifically recognize and neutralize TGF-β3. These antibodies are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions associated with activated or elevated TGF-β3, including cancer, and for modulating immune cells and immune response, including immune response to cancer or cancer antigens. The anti-TGF-β3 antibodies, variable regions or CDR domain sequences thereof, and fragments thereof may also be used in therapy in combination with chemotherapeutics, immune modulators, or anti-cancer agents and/or with other antibodies or fragments thereof. Antibodies of this type are exemplified by the novel antibodies hereof, including antibody MTGF-β3-9, MTGF-β3-12, MTGF-β3-16, MTGF-β3-17 and MTGF-β3-19, whose sequences are provided herein.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are methods to inhibit cleavage of a type I receptor of transforming growth factor beta (?ßRI) and reduce cancer cell invasiveness/metastasis, and agents and pharmaceutical compositions for use in these methods. Also disclosed herein are methods for identifying agents that inhibit cleavage of ?ßRI and methods for diagnosing and/or prognosing cancer based on nuclear localization of a intracellular domain of ?ßRI, which is a product of ?ßRI cleavage.
Abstract:
Some aspects of this invention are based on the recognition that reversible protein multimers in which monomeric proteins are conjugated to a carrier molecule via chelation complex bonds are stable under physiological conditions and can be dissociated in a controlled manner under physiological, nontoxic conditions. Accordingly, such protein multimers are useful for a variety of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo application for research, diagnostics, and therapy. Some aspect of this invention provide reversible MHC protein multimers, and methods of using such multimers in the detection and/or isolation of specific T-cells or T-cell populations. Because reversible MHC multimers can efficiently be dissociated, the time of MHC binding to T-cell receptors, and, thus, T-cell receptor- mediated T-cell activation can be minimized. The use of reversible MHC multimers as provided herein, accordingly, allows for the detection and isolation of bona fide antigen- specific CD8+ T cells without inducing activation dependent cell death, including rare, therapeutically valuable T- cells expressing T-cell receptors binding tumor antigens with high affinity. Methods for the production and use of reversible multimers are also provided.
Abstract:
Protein-immunoco?jugates are provided, particularly TNF conjugates to antibodies and fragments thereof which bind to Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP). TNF-FAP antibody conjugates are provided wherein the FAP antibody recognizes both human and mouse FAP. These immunoconjugates are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions associated with activated stroma, including wound healing, epithelial cancers, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cirrhosis and pulmonary fibrosis, and more broadly in TNF responsive conditions and disorders, including cancer and hyperproliferative diseases. In addition, the FAP-immunoconjugates can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of FAP positive tumors such as pancreatic cancer, melanoma and sarcomas. The immunoconjugates, antibodies, variable regions or CDR domain sequences thereof, and fragments thereof of the present invention may also be used in therapy in combination with chemotherapeutics, immune modulators, or anti-cancer agents and/or with other antibodies or fragments thereof.
Abstract:
In certain aspects, the present disclosure relates to the insight that a polypeptide comprising a ligand-binding portion of the extracellular domain of activin-like kinase I (ALKl) polypeptide may be used to inhibit angiogenesis in vivo, particularly in mammals suffering angiogenesis-related disorders. Additionally, the disclosure demonstrates that inhibitors of ALKl may be used to increase pericyte coverage in vascularized tissues, including tumors and the retina. The disclosure also identifies ligands for ALKl and demonstrates that such ligands have pro-angiogenic activity, and describes antibodies that inhibit receptor-ligand interaction
Abstract:
The invention provides the crystal structure of the iASPP C-terminal protein molecule. The structure is set out in Table 1. The structure may be used in to model the interaction of compounds such as pharmaceuticals with this protein, and to determine the structure of related iASPP C-terminal molecules.
Abstract:
The invention relates to the identification of astrocytoma markers, astrocytoma stem cells and markers of such stem cells, and diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic methods based on an understanding of the markers and cells.
Abstract:
Immunostimulatory NY-ESO-I epitopes recognized by MHC-DRB3*0202 (DR52b) or DRBl +OlOl (DRl) restricted T cells are described. Methods for their use in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are also provided. Further, methods for the generation and isolation of MHC class II molecules, either "empty" or peptide-loaded, are provided. Methods for the assembly of MHC class II multimers, for example, tetramers, are also provided. Methods for the detection of T cells binding to specific peptide-loaded MHC class II molecules are also described herein.
Abstract:
The disclosure relates to methods of analyzing the enzymatic activity of enzymes in samples containing a plurality of enzymes, using mass spectrometry. Immobilized substrates are employed. Purified enzymes and enzymes from crude cell lysates can be analyzed using the disclosed methods.