43 results about "Alpha-2-Macroglobulin" patented technology

The present invention relates to methods of improving a treatment outcome comprising administering a heat shock protein (HSP) preparation or an alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha2M) preparation with a non-vaccine treatment modality. In particular, an HSP preparation or an alpha2M preparation is administered in conjunction with a non-vaccine treatment modality for the treatment of cancer or infectious diseases. In the practice of the invention, a preparation comprising HSPs such as but not limited to, hsp70, hsp90 and gp96 alone or in combination with each other, noncovalently or covalently bound to antigenic molecules or alpha2M, noncovalently or covalently bound to antigenic molecules is administered in conjunction with a non-vaccine treatment modality.

The present invention provides a method of improving or prolonging a subject's immune response to a vaccine composition comprising heat shock protein (HSP)-peptide complexes or alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha2M)-peptide complexes (hereinafter "HSP/alpha2M vaccine composition"). The HSP-peptide complexes or alpha2M-peptide complexes of the vaccine composition comprise HSP(s) or alpha2M complexed to a component against which an immune response is desired to be induced. In particular the invention is directed to methods of improving or prolonging a subject's immune response comprising administering an HSP/alpha2M vaccine composition in conjunction with a preparation comprising HSP or alpha2M, alone or complexed to a peptide that is not the component against which an immune response is desired to be induced (hereinafter "HSP/alpha2M preparation"), i.e., the HSP/alpha2M preparation does not display the immunogenicity of the component. In particular, HSP/alpha2M vaccine compositions are administered in conjunction with HSP/alpha2M preparation to improve or prolong the immune response of a subject against an infectious disease or cancer.

Provided are methods for the detection and diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome or ACS. The methods are based on the discovery that abnormal levels of selected analytes in sample fluid, typically blood samples, of patients who are at risk are supportive of a diagnosis of ACS. At least two new biomarkers for ACS are thus disclosed, MMP-3 and SGOT. Altogether the concentrations of twelve analytes provide a sensitive and selective picture of the patient's condition, namely, whether the patient is suffering a heart attack. Other important biomarkers for ACS are described, including but not limited to IL-18, Factor VII, ICAM-1, Creatine Kinase-MB, MCP-1, Myoglobin, C Reactive Protein, von Willebrand Factor, TIMP-1, Ferritin, Glutathione S-Transferase, Prostate Specific Antigen (free), IL-3, Tissue Factor, alpha-Fetoprotein, Prostatic Acid Phosphatase, Stem Cell Factor, MIP-1-beta, Carcinoembryonic Antigen, IL-13, TNF-alpha, IgE, Fatty Acid Binding Protein, ENA-78, IL-1-beta, Brain-Derived Nerotrophic Factor, Apolipoprotein A1, Serum Amyloid P, Growth Hormone, Beta-2 microglobulin, Lipoprotein (a), MMP-9, Thyroid Stimulating hormone, alpha-2 Macroglobulin, Complement 3, IL-7, Leptin, and IL-6. Kits containing reagents to assist in the analysis of fluid samples are also described.

A biological tissue regenerative agent and method for preparing the same. The agent comprises the compounds that are usually found sequestered within platelets, along with platelet cytosolic components, and serum. The agent is prepared by preparing two quanta of blood. The first is clotted, the cells discarded and the serum retained. The second quantum undergoes concentration and lysis of the platelets therein, followed by recombination of the lysed platelets and platelet internal products with serum to form the agent. In a preferred embodiment, lysis of platelets is accomplished by providing an effective amount of calcium. The avoidance of a platelet release reaction and the presence of alpha-2 macroglobulin in the serum suppresses active TGF-β in the agent. The agent may be further purified and may be frozen or freeze dried for storage.

A method for the detection of the presence and/or the severity of a liver disease in a patient comprising measuring in an isolated sample TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase I), ferritin, at least one additional parameter selected from the group consisting of A2M (alpha-2-macroglobulin) and PI (prothrombin index) and optionally measuring at least one additional biochemical or clinical parameter and diagnosing the presence and/or severity of a liver disease based on the presence or measured levels of these parameters. The method can be used for monitoring therapeutic treatment of liver fibrosis and staging of liver fibrosis.

The invention discloses a fusing protein and preparing method and application, which is combined of para-insanguinin peptide 1 repeating sequence and human serum albumin, immune globulin, ferritin, steroid connecting protein, transferrin, thyroid connecting protein, alpha-2 macroglobulin and haptoglobin. The invention also provides the coding sequence of fusing protein and carrier and host with the coding chain, which possesses better stability and internal half-life.

Provided are methods for the detection and diagnosis of Hypothyroidism. The methods are based on the discovery that altered levels of selected analytes in sample fluid, typically blood samples, of patients are supportive of a diagnosis of Hypothyroidism. At least twenty-four new biomarkers for hypothyroidism are thus disclosed (singly or in any combination), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, Interleukin-12p40, Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, Tissue Factor, Interleukin-15, Insulin, Immunoglobulin E, Growth Stimulating Hormone, Calcitonin, Prostate-Specific Antigen, Interleukin-4, Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9, Lymphotactin, Fatty Acid Binding Protein, Alpha Fetoprotein, Alpha-2 Macroglobulin, Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase, Matrix Metalloproteinase 3, Cancer Antigen 125, Mumps Antibody, Double Stranded DNA Antibody, Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Antibody, Smith Antibody, or Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Glycoprotein D Antibody. Altogether the concentrations of one or more of these analytes, as well as Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, or any combination thereof, provide a sensitive and selective picture of the patient's condition, namely, whether the patient is suffering from Hypothyroidism. Kits containing reagents to assist in the analysis of fluid samples are also described.

The application relates to a polypeptide, the amino acid sequence of which is the sequence of a sub-fragment of the C-terminal thioester-cleaved fragment of human alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), wherein the molecular weight of said polypeptide is of 36 to 44 kDa, and wherein the first N-terminal amino acid of said polypeptide is an amino acid, which, in the full length sequence of said human A2M, is at a position 1,098 or 1,085 or 1,084 or 1,083, and the last C-terminal amino acid of said polypeptide is an amino acid, which, in the full length sequence of said human A2M, is one of the last twenty C-terminal amino acids. This polypeptide is differently abundant depending on the stage of liver fibrosis. The application also relates to means deriving therefrom and to the application thereof, notably in the field of hepatitis.

The invention relates to the technical field of blood products, in particular to a device and method for preparation of serum rich in alpha 2 macroglobulin by an improved ultrafiltration centrifugation process, and solves the problems of tedious extraction steps, progressively decreased protein activity in the extraction process and increased blood product contamination probability caused by the complicated extraction process in the existing alpha 2 macroglobulin purification method. The device consists of a centrifuge pipe and suction equipment, the centrifuge pipe consists of a common centrifuge tube and an ultrafiltration centrifuge tube, two ends of a first suction apparatus are respectively connected to target blood and the common centrifuge tube, two ends of a second suction apparatus are respectively connected to the common centrifuge tube's part accommodating supernatant and the bottom of the ultrafiltration centrifuge tube through a duct, and two ends of a third suction apparatus are respectively connected to the ultrafiltration centrifuge tube's part accommodating supernatant and an alpha 2 macroglobulin-rich serum collector through a duct. According to the invention, theseparation process does not destroy the activity of biological molecules, the recovery rate is high and the reproducibility is good.

The invention discloses an AD biomarker and a detection method thereof. The AD biomarker comprises at least one of Protein-glutamine gamma-glutamyltransferase E, Protein S100-A12, Alph-2-macroglobulin-like protein 1, Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, Myeloperoxidase, Peroxiredoxin-1, Protein S100-A11, Alpha-2-macroglobulin, Cystatin-C, Histone H2A, Histone H2B, Tubulin alpha-1B and Annexin A3.

The invention relates to the technical field of in vitro immunodiagnosis detection of alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-MG), in particular to an alpha 2-MG detection kit. A reagent R1 contains a buffer solution, NaCl, PEG-6000, undecylcarboxymethyl sodium type imidazoline acetate, and a preservative, a reagent R2 contains a buffer solution, goat anti-human alpha 2-MG antibody-coated latex particles,casein, gelatin, glycerin, trehalose, undecylcarboxymethyl sodium type imidazoline acetate, preservative. The kit disclosed by the invention significantly improves the stability and linear range of the reagent, and significantly enhances the sensitivity and accuracy of the reagent.

Systems and methods for purification and concentration of autologous alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) from whole blood are provided. Also provided are diagnostic methods for identifying sites in the synovial joints, spine, tendons or ligaments for treatment of pain, degeneration, or inflammation with autologous A2M. Methods for utilizing autologous A2M in combination with other autologous treatments (e.g. platelets and other growth factors) are provided in addition to combinations with exogenous drugs or carriers. Also provided is a method of producing recombinant A2M wild type or variants thereof where the bait region was modified to enhance the inhibition characteristics of A2M and/or to prolong the half life of the protein in joints and spine disc or epidural space.

The present invention is directed to monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to a Limulus alpha 2-macroglobulin. Preferred monoclonal antibodies inhibit the enzymatic activation of a Limulus amebocyte lysate to form a gel or to cleave a chromogenic substrate in the presence of an endotoxin but not in the presence of a glucan. The monoclonal antibodies can be used, inter alia, to purify a Limulus alpha 2-macroglobulin, and the preferred antibodies can be used in a method for specifically detecting a glucan in a test sample using an amebocyte lysate.

Provided are methods for the detection and diagnosis of galactosemia. The methods are based on the discovery that abnormal levels of selected analytes in sample fluid, typically blood samples, of patients who are at risk are supportive of a diagnosis of galactosemia. At least two new biomarkers for galactosemia are thus disclosed, Eotaxin and MCP-1. Altogether the concentrations these markers, individually, or in combinations with any of Alpha-2 Macroglobulin, Apolipoprotein H, Cancer Antigen 125, Leptin, TNF RII, Alpha-Fetoprotein, IgM, MIP-1 alpha, Ferritin, and IgE provide a sensitive and selective picture of the patient's condition, namely, whether the patient is suffering from galactosemia. Kits containing reagents to assist in the analysis of fluid samples are also described.

A2M polypeptide compositions containing a non-natural bait region are disclosed. Methods of producing wild-type and variant A2M polypeptides and polynucleotides containing a non-natural bait region are also disclosed. The bait regions of the variant A2M polypeptides demonstrate enhanced protease inhibitory characteristics compared to wild-type A2M. Variant A2M polypeptides that demonstrate longer half-lives upon administration to an organism compared to wild-type A2M are disclosed. The A2M compositions are useful in treating a number of diseases and conditions including inflammation, chronic wounds, and diseases with a pathology associated with proteases.

A2M polypeptide compositions containing a non-natural bait region are disclosed. Methods of producing wild-type and variant A2M polypeptides and polynucleotides containing a non-natural bait region are also disclosed. The bait regions of the variant A2M polypeptides demonstrate enhanced protease inhibitory characteristics compared to wild-type A2M. Variant A2M polypeptides that demonstrate longer half-lives upon administration to an organism compared to wild-type A2M are disclosed. The A2M compositions are useful in treating a number of diseases and conditions including inflammation, chronic wounds, and diseases with a pathology associated with proteases.