401 results about "Endothelial NOS" patented technology

The present invention relates to ligands which bind to human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) in a manner such that upon binding of these ligands to TNF the biological activity of TNF is modified. In preferred forms the ligand binds to TNF in a manner such that the induction of endothelial procoagulant activity of the TNF is inhibited; the binding of TNF to receptors on endothelial cells is inhibited; the induction of fibrin deposition in the tumor and tumor regression activities of the TNF are enhanced; and the cytotoxicity and receptor binding activities of the TNF are unaffected or enhanced on tumor cells. The ligand is preferably an antibody, F(ab) fragment, single domain antibody (dABs) single chain antibody or a serum binding protein. It is preferred, however, that the ligand is a monoclonal antibody or F(ab) fragment thereof.

The present invention concerns methods and reagents useful in modulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D) and / or vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (e.g., VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and / or VEGFr3) gene expression in a variety of applications, including use in therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, and genomic discovery applications. Specifically, the invention relates to small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules capable of mediating RNA interference (RNAi) against VEGF and / or VEGFr gene expression and / or activity. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, proliferative diseases, and any other disease or condition that responds to modulation of VEGF and / or VEGFr expression or activity.

Angiogenic endothelial cells are selectively targeted with lipid / DNA complexes or cationic liposomes containing a substance which affects the targeted cells by inhibiting or promoting their growth. A site of angiogenesis can be precisely located by administering cationic liposomes containing a detectable label. The complexes may comprise nucleotide constructs which are comprised of promoters which are selectively and exclusively activated in the environment of an angiogenic endothelial cell.

Immunogenic compositions and prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines for use in protecting and treating against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) are disclosed. Subunit vaccines comprising a human CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130, and nucleic acid vaccines comprising at least one nucleic acid encoding a CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130 are described. Also disclosed are therapeutic antibodies reactive against a CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130, as well as methods for screening compounds that inhibit CMV infection of epithelial and endothelial cells, methods for immunizing a subject against CMV infection, methods for determining the capability of neutralizing antibodies to inhibit human CMV infection of cell types other than fibroblasts, and methods of diminishing an CMV infection.

Disclosed herein are methods for treating a vascular inflammatory disorder or endothelial cell disorder using inhibitor compounds that inhibit the expression or biological activity of Tie-1, Tie-1 endodomain, thrombin, VEGFR2, VEGFR2 endodomain, EphA2, and any of the cytokines or kinases that are upregulated by activation of Tie-1 or thrombin, as provided herein. Also disclosed are the use of combinations of inhibitor compounds or the use of an eNOS activator compound in combination with any one or more of the inhibitor compounds. Also disclosed are methods for inhibiting the pro-coagulant activity of thrombin using a Tie-1 or Tie-1 endodomain inhibitor compound or an EphA2 inhibitor compound. Methods for diagnosing and monitoring vascular inflammatory disorders or endothelial cell disorders that include the measurement of any of the polypeptides or nucleic acid molecules of the invention are also disclosed.

The invention provides polynucleotides and genes that are differentially expressed in lymphatic versus blood vascular endothelial cells. These genes are useful for treating diseases involving lymphatic vessels, such as lymphedema, various inflammatory diseases, and cancer metastasis via the lymphatic system.

A Candida albicans bloodstream infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Filament formation and adherence to host cells are critical virulence factors of C. albicans. Multiple filamentation regulatory pathways have been discovered, however the downstream effectors of these regulatory pathways remain unknown. The cell surface proteins in the ALS group are downstream effectors of the filamentation regulatory pathway. Particularly, Als1p mediates adherence to endothelial cells in vitro and is required for virulence. The blocking of adherence by the organism is described resulting from the use of a composition and method disclosed herein. Specifically, a pharmaceutical composition comprised of a gene, gene product, or specific antibody to the ALS gene family is administered as a vaccine to generate an immune response capable of blocking adherence of the organism.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting the biological activity of integrins, for inhibiting endothelial cell migration. and for inhibiting angiogenesis. In particular, the invention provides compositions comprising ADAM disintegrin domains and methods for using said compositions. In preferred embodiments the methods and compositions of the invention are used to inhibit angiogenesis and to treat diseases or conditions mediated by angiogenesis.

The present invention relates to placenta tissue-derived multipotent stem cells and cell therapeutic agents containing the same. More specifically, to a method for producing placenta stem cells having the following characteristics, the method comprising culturing amnion, chorion, decidua or placenta tissue in a medium containing collagenase and bFGF and collecting the cultured cells: (a) showing a positive immunological response to CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90 and CD105, and showing a negative immunological response to CD31, CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR; (b) showing a positive immunological response to Oct4 and SSEA4; (c) growing attached to plastic, showing a round-shaped or spindle-shaped morphology, and forming spheres in an SFM medium so as to be able to be maintained in an undifferentiated state for a long period of time; and (d) having the ability to differentiate into mesoderm-, endoderm- and ectoderm-derived cells. Also the present invention relates to placenta stem cells obtained using the production method. The inventive multipotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate into muscle cells, vascular endothelial cells, osteogenic cells, nerve cells, satellite cells, fat cells, cartilage-forming cells, osteogenic cells, or insuline-secreting pancreatic β-cells, and thus are effective for the treatment of muscular diseases, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, nervous diseases, diabetes and the like, and are useful for the formation of breast tissue.

A medicament based on antibodies contains an activated form of ultra-low doses of monoclonal, polyclonal, or natural antibodies to endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NO synthase), the activated form being prepared by multiple consecutive dilutions and exposure to external factors, preferably according to the homeopathic technology. A method of treating erectile dysfunctions and vegetative disturbances of male climax by regulating the level of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in the cavernous bodies on sexual stimulation, the method being characterized by the use of activated forms of ultra-low doses of antibodies to the entire molecule of the endothelial NO synthase or to its polypeptide fragments, activated forms being prepared by multiple consecutive dilutions and exposure to external factors.

Described herein are novel soluble chimeric fusion proteins comprising amino acid sequences derived from the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors flt-1 and KDR, including domain 4 of KDR. The claimed chimeric fusion proteins antagonize the endothelial cell proliferative and angiogenic activity of VEGF and are useful in the treatment of neovascularization-related disease.

The invention provides methods of attenuating, e.g., inhibiting or reducing, cellular proliferation and migration, particularly endothelial cell proliferation and migration, including that associated with angiogenesis, using opioid antagonists, including, but not limited to, those that are peripherally restricted antagonists.

The present invention relates to nucleic acids and polypeptides encoded thereby, whose expression is modulated in brain microvascular endothelial cells undergoing early dynamic inflammation-induced changes in blood-brain barrier functionality. Such polypeptides are referred to as lipopolysaccharide-sensitive (LPSS) polypeptides herein. These nucleic acids and polypeptides may be useful in methods for controlling blood-brain barrier properties in mammals in need of such biological effects. This includes the diagnosis and treatment of disturbances in the blood-brain / retina barrier, brain (including the eye) disorders, as well as peripheral vascular disorders. Additionally, the invention relates to the use of anti-LPSS polypeptide antibodies or ligands as diagnostic probes, as blood-brain barrier targeting agents or as therapeutic agents as well as the use of ligands or modulators of expression, activation or bioactivity of LPSS polypeptides as diagnostic probes, therapeutic agents or drug delivery enhancers.

The present invention concerns methods and reagents useful in modulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D) and / or vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (e.g., VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and / or VEGFr3) gene expression in a variety of applications, including use in therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, and genomic discovery applications. Specifically, the invention relates to small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (mRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules capable of mediating RNA interference (RNAi) against VEGF and / or VEGFr gene expression and / or activity. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, proliferative diseases, and any other disease or condition that responds to modulation of VEGF and / or VEGFr expression or activity.

Isolated polynucleotide sequences exhibiting endothelial cell specific promoter activity, novel cis regulatory elements and methods of use thereof enabling treatment of diseases characterized by aberrant neovascularization or cell growth are disclosed.

To gain a better understanding of tumor angiogenesis, new techniques for isolating endothelial cells (ECs) and evaluating gene expression patterns were developed. When transcripts from ECs derived from normal and malignant colorectal tissues were compared with transcripts from non-endothelial cells, over 170 genes predominantly expressed in the endothelium were identified. Comparison between normal- and tumor-derived endothelium revealed 79 differentially expressed genes, including 46 that were specifically elevated in tumor-associated endothelium. Experiments with representative genes from this group demonstrated that most were similarly expressed in the endothelium of primary lung, breast, brain, and pancreatic cancers as well as in metastatic lesions of the liver. These results demonstrate that neoplastic and normal endothelium in humans are distinct at the molecular level, and have significant implications for the development of anti-angiogenic therapies in the future.

VEGF-D, a new member of the PDGF family of growth factors, which among other things stimulates endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis and increases vascular permeability, as well as nucleotide sequences encoding it, methods for producing it, antibodies and other antagonists to it, transfected or transformed host cells for expressing it, pharmaceutical compositions containing it, and uses thereof in medical and diagnostic applications.

The present invention provides methods and formulations for the treatment and prevention of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases and disorders. The present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery that administering to a subject a formulation comprising an agonist of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), such as an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, and a formulation comprising a precursor of NO, such as L-arginine, may be used to treat or prevent cerebrovascular and / or cardiovascular diseases or disorders.

This invention relates to transgenic non-human animals comprising a disrupted endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene. These animals exhibit abnormal wound-healing properties and hypertension. This invention also relates to methods of using the transgenic animals to screen for compounds having a potential therapeutic utility for vascular endothelial disorders, such as hypertension, cerebral ischemia or stroke, atherosclerosis and wound-healing activities. Moreover, this invention also relates to methods of treating a patient suffering from hypertension and wound-healing abnormalities with the compounds identified using the transgenic animals, and methods of making the transgenic animals. A method of treating a wound using nitroglycerin is also provided.

The present invention provides methods and compositions to treat fibrotic conditions, to increase lymphocyte production in vivo, and to improve and / or normalize lung function, pulmonary compliance, blood oxygenation, and blood pH to inhibit inflammatory processes to stimulate or inhibit pro-inflammatory and immune cells, and to inhibit migration of vascular endothelial cells. The invention contemplates the administration of human uteroglobin, native or recombinant, as a means of achieving these ends. Specifically, it has been found that uteroglobin inhibits cell adhesion to fibronectin, increases lymphocyte production in vivo, and improves and / or normalizes lung function, pulmonary compliance, blood oxygenation, and blood pH, and inhibits inflammatory process. In addition it has been found that uteroglobin can stimulate or inhibit pro-inflammatory and immune cells and inhibitor migration of vascular endothelial cells.

The present invention provides a method for expanding an endothelial progenitor cell in vitro. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for culturing a hemangioblast comprising incubating a hemangioblast in a serum-free culture medium containing one or more factors selected from the group consisting of stem cell growth factor, interleukin-6, FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 and thrombopoietin, and a vascular endothelial cell produced by the method; and a serum-free culture medium containing one or more factors selected from the group consisting of stem cell growth factor, interleukin-6, FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 and thrombopoietin, and a kit for the preparation of the serum-free culture medium and the like.

The present invention provides polypeptides that bind cellular receptors for vascular endothelial growth factor polypeptides; polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides; compositions comprising the polypeptides and polynucleotides; and methods and uses involving the foregoing. Some polypeptides of the invention exhibit unique receptor binding profiles compared to known, naturally occurring vascular endothelial growth factors.

A mouse monoclonal antibody for antagonizing and inhibiting binding of a vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGF-R), and a heavy chain variable region and light chain variable region amino acid sequence thereof. Also disclosed are a humanized preparation process of the antibody and a heavy chain variable region and light chain variable region amino acid sequence of the humanized antibody. The humanized antibody or its derivative can act as an ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition or be prepared into a suitable pharmaceutical preparation, is administered alone or in combination with a chemotherapy drug or other treatment means, and is used in broad-spectrum treatment of various solid tumors such as colon cancer, breast cancer and rhabdomyosarcoma.

New designed ankyrin repeat domains with binding specificity for serum albumin, recombinant binding proteins comprising at least two designed ankyrin repeat domains with binding specificity for serum albumin, as well as recombinant binding proteins comprising at least one designed ankyrin repeat domain with binding specificity for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), at least one designed ankyrin repeat domain with binding specificity for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), and at least two designed ankyrin repeat domain with binding specificity for serum albumin are described, as well as nucleic acids encoding such designed ankyrin repeat domains and recombinant binding proteins, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such designed ankyrin repeat domains, recombinant binding proteins or nucleic acids and the use of such designed ankyrin repeat domains, recombinant binding proteins, nucleic acids or pharmaceutical compositions in the treatment of diseases.

The present invention relates to a treatment agent for a disease or a disorder caused by a reduction in corneal endothelial cells, comprising as an active component at least one nucleic acid molecule inhibiting the expression of a connexin 43 gene.

Angiogenic endothelial cells are selectively targeted with lipid / DNA complexes or cationic liposomes containing a substance which affects the targeted cells by inhibiting or promoting their growth. A site of angiogenesis can be precisely located by administering cationic liposomes containing a detectable label. The complexes may comprise nucleotide constructs which are comprised of promoters which are selectively and exclusively activated in the environment of an angiogenic endothelial cell.

The present invention provides methods and compositions to treat fibrotic conditions, to increase lymphocyte production in vivo, and to improve and / or normalize lung function, pulmonary compliance, blood oxygenation, and blood pH to inhibit inflammatory processes to stimulate or inhibit pro-inflammatory and immune cells, and to inhibit migration of vascular endothelial cells. The invention contemplates the administration of human uteroglobin, native or recombinant, as a means of achieving these ends. Specifically, it has been found that uteroglobin inhibits cell adhesion to fibronectin, increases lymphocyte production in vivo, and improves and / or normalizes lung function, pulmonary compliance, blood oxygenation, and blood pH, and inhibits inflammatory process. In addition it has been found that uteroglobin can stimulate or inhibit pro-inflammatory and immune cells and inhibitor migration of vascular endothelial cells.

A medicament based on antibodies contains an activated form of ultra-low doses of monoclonal, polyclonal, or natural antibodies to endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NO synthase), the activated form being prepared by multiple consecutive dilutions and exposure to external factors, preferably according to the homeopathic technology. A method of treating erectile dysfunctions and vegetative disturbances of male climax by regulating the level of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in the cavernous bodies on sexual stimulation, the method being characterized by the use of activated forms of ultra-low doses of antibodies to the entire molecule of the endothelial NO synthase or to its polypeptide fragments, activated forms being prepared by multiple consecutive dilutions and exposure to external factors.