345 results about "Caspase" patented technology

The present invention relates to novel fluorescent dyes, novel fluorogenic and fluorescent reporter molecules and new enzyme assay processes that can be used to detect the activity of caspases and other enzymes involved in apoptosis in whole cells, cell lines and tissue samples derived from any living organism or organ. The reporter molecules and assay processes can be used in drug screening procedures to identify compounds which act as inhibitors or inducers of the caspase cascade in whole cells or tissues. The reagents and assays described herein are also useful for determining the chemosensitivity of human cancer cells to treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs. The present invention also relates to novel fluorogenic and fluorescent reporter molecules and new enzyme assay processes that can be used to detect the activity of type 2 methionine aminopeptidase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, calpain, aminopeptidase, HIV protease, adenovirus protease, HSV-1 protease, HCMV protease and HCV protease.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for symptom-based differential diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects. In particular, the invention relates to the use of biomarkers, either individually or in combinations with one another to rule in or out diseases of the aorta and its branches, most particularly aortic aneurysm and/or aortic dissection, and for risk stratification in such conditions. Preferred markers include one or more of creatine kinase-BB (CK-BB), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), acidic calponin, basic calponin, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), NT-proBNP, proBNP, BNP_79-108, BNP_3-108, caldesmon, caspase-3, D-dimer, soluble elastin fragments, endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (ESAM), fibrillin-1, heart-type fatty acid binding protein, MMP-9, myeloperoxidase, myoglobin, smooth muscle myosin, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, TIMP-1, free cardiac troponin I, complexed cardiac troponin I, free and complexed cardiac troponin I, free cardiac troponin T, complexed cardiac troponin T, and free and complexed cardiac troponin T, and preferred assays are configured to detect these markers.

Superantibodies having enhanced autophilic, catalytic, and/or membrane-penetrating properties are prepared by affinity-based conjugation of a photoactivatable organic molecule to a target immunoglobulin. The photoactivatable organic molecule bears a chromophoric aromatic hydrocarbon moiety, which has affinity for the immunoglobulin. Upon photolysis, the organic molecule is covalently linked to the immunoglobulin. A preferred organic molecule is a peptide and a preferred aromatic hydrocarbon moiety is a tryptophan residue. The photoactivatable organic molecule need not bear a purine, pyrimidine or azido group to effect binding to the immunoglobulin and/or photoactivation. The superantibodies can enhance the potency and expand the targeting range of target antibodies. Autophilic superantibodies can promote apoptosis of target cells and/or enhance therapeutic efficacies in the treatment of patients with diseases or disorders responsive to antibody therapy. Exemplary of such diseases are atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Membrane-penetrating superantibodies can prevent apoptosis by binding to intracellular anti-caspase signal proteins. Compositions containing the superantibodies, as well as methods of making and using them, are disclosed.

The invention provides isolated agents having a core peptide selected from the group consisting of Core peptides 5 through 39 and 42 through 55, wherein the agent derepresses an IAP-inhibited caspase. Also provided is an isolated agent having a core structure selected from any of the structures shown in FIGS. 5, 9, 10, 14B, 21-24 and 48, a core structure selected from the group of TPI 759, TPI 882, TPI 914 or TPI 927; and a core structure from a library selected from TPI 1391, TPI 1349, TPI 1396, TPI 1509, TPI 1540, TPI 1400, TPI 792, TPI 1332, TPI 1567, TPI 1576 and TPI 1577, wherein the agent derepresses an IAP-inhibited caspase. The invention further provides a method of derepressing an IAP-inhibited caspase.

The invention provides isolated agents having a core peptide selected from the group consisting of Core peptides 5 through 39 and 42 through 55, wherein the agent derepresses an IAP-inhibited caspase. Also provided is an isolated agent having a core structure selected from any of the structures shown in FIGS. 5, 9, 10, 14B, and 21-24 wherein said agent derepresses an IAP-inhibited caspase. The invention further provides a method of derepressing an IAP-inhibited caspase. The method consists of contacting an IAP-inhibited caspase with an effective amount of an agent to derepress an IAP-inhibited caspase, the agent having a core motif selected from the group consisting of a core peptide having a sequence set forth in any of Core peptides 4 through 39 and 42 through 55, and a core structure selected from the group consisting of TPI759, TPI882, TPI914 or TPI927. The methods of the invention also can be used for promoting apoptosis in a cell and for reducing the severity of a pathology characterized by reduced levels of apoptosis. Methods for identifying agents that derepress an IAP-inhibited caspase are also provided.

Disclosed are 4-arylamino-quinazolines and analogs thereof effective as activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis. The compounds of this invention are useful in the treatment of a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.

Compositions and methods are disclosed in embodiments relating to induction of cell death such as in cancer cells. Compounds and related methods for synthesis and use thereof, including the use of compounds in therapy for the treatment of cancer and selective induction of apoptosis in cells are disclosed. Compounds are disclosed in connection with modification of procaspases such as procaspase-3. In embodiments, compositions are capable of activation of procaspase-3.

The invention provides novel method for the localized delivery of pharmaceutical agents by the administration of a caspase conjugate that targets a cell type of interest and the additional administration of a pro-agent that is locally converted, in the presence of the caspase, to an active agent. The invention further provides novel tageting agents comprising a caspase as well as novel prodrugs comprising a caspase cleavable prodrug moiety. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions as well as methods of treatment comprising the caspase conjugates and prodrugs of the invention

The present invention is directed to novel derivatives of gambogic acid and analogs thereof. The present invention also relates to the discovery that novel derivatives of gambogic acid are activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis. Therefore, the activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis of this invention can be used to induce cell death in a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.

Activity-based probes, which are specific for certain active cysteine proteases (caspase, cathepsin and legumain) and carry radioactive labels, are disclosed. The present probes comprise an acyloxymethyketone (AOMK) “warhead” that binds only to active enzyme. The probes further comprise peptide-like structure that targets the probe to a specific cysteine protease or protease family, and a radiolabel on the probe, which is bound to the targeted enzyme. It has been found that the present probes are stable in vivo and give specific target images distinguishable over background. The preferred probes are labeled with a positron-emitting agent such as ⁶⁴Cu, ¹²⁵I (SPECT) and ^99mTc (PET). The probes show in vivo half-life and stability well suited for imaging.

Disclosed are N-aryl-thienopyrimidin-4-amines and analogs thereof, represented by the Formulae I-II:

wherein Ar and R₁-R₄ are defined herein. The present invention relates to the discovery that compounds having Formulae I-II are activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis. Therefore, the activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis of this invention may be used to induce cell death in a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.

The invention provides isolated agents having novel chemical structures and possessing superior activity as derepressors of IAP inhibited caspase. The invention further provides a method of derepressing an IAP-inhibited caspase. The invention further provides assay methods employing labeled compounds of the invention, especially fluorescent labeled compounds.

The present invention provides a composition and method comprising a 2–20 base 3′-OH, 5′-OH synthetic oligonucleotide (sequence) selected from the group consisting of (G_xT_y)_n, (T_yG_x)_n, a(G_xT_y)_n, a(T_yG_x)_n, (G_xT_y)_nb, (T_yG_x)_nb, a(G_xT_y)_nb, a(T_yG_x)_nb, wherein x and y is an integer between 1 and 7, n is an integer between 1 and 12, a and b are one or more As, Cs, Gs or Ts and wherein the sequence induces a response selected from the group consisting of induction of cell cycle arrest, inhibition of proliferation, activation of caspases and induction of apoptosis in cancer cells and production of cytokines by immune system cells.

The invention belongs to the field of biological medicines and relates to an application of combination of a Caspase activator and an oncolytic virus in preparation of an antitumor drug. The condition that the antitumor effect of the oncolytic virus can be improved with the Caspase activator is discovered for the first time, the combination of the Caspase activator and the oncolytic virus has a quite high synergistic effect, and an effective therapeutic schedule is provided for oncotherapy with low drug sensitivity.

The present invention is directed to substituted 4H-chromenes, 2H-chromenes, chromans and analogs thereof, represented by the general Formula (I) wherein R₅, A, B, X, Y, Z and dotted lines are defined herein. The present invention also relates to the discovery that compounds having Formula (I) are activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis. Therefore, the activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis of this invention can be used to induce cell death in a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.