53 results about "Paracaspase" patented technology

Provided are methods and compositions useful in detecting protease activity in a sample, as well as methods of identifying agents that modulate protease activity. The methods and compositions provide a modified luciferase polynucleotide sequence and a luciferase polypeptide containing protease recognition sequences, wherein cleavage of the recognition sequence by a protease inhibits luciferase activity. Further provided are methods and compositions for detecting and modulating caspase activity and apoptosis.

Compounds and related methods for synthesis, and 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, and particular embodiments are capable of direct activation of procaspase-3 and procaspase-7 to the effector forms of caspase-3 and caspase-7. Procaspase-3 levels can vary among cancer cell types; several types have relatively high levels and can have increased susceptibility to chemotherapy by compounds and methods herein. Therapeutic applications are relevant for a variety of cancer conditions and cell types, e.g. breast, lung, brain, colon, renal, adrenal, melanoma, and others.

A method for treating a subject afflicted with an autoimmune disease with a pharmaceutical composition comprising glatiramer acetate and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, comprising the steps of administering a therapeutic amount of the pharmaceutical composition to the subject, determining whether the subject is a glatiramer acetate responder or a glatiramer acetate hypo- / non-responder by measuring the value of a biomarker selected from the group consisting of IL-10 concentration, IL-17 concentration, IL-18 concentration, TNF-α concentration, BDNF concentration, caspase-1 concentration, IL-10 / IL-18 ratio and IL-10 / IL-17 ratio in the blood of the subject, and comparing the measured value to a reference value for the biomarker to identify the subject as a glatiramer acetate responder or a glatiramer acetate hypo- / non-responder, and continuing the administration if the subject is identified as a glatiramer acetate responder, or modifying treatment of the subject if the subject is identified as a glatiramer acetate hypo- / non-responder.

This invention provides a non-radioactive assay to monitor and quantify the target-cell killing activities mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). This assay is predicated on the discovery that apoptosis pathway activation and, in particular, granzyme B activity, provides a measure of cytotoxic effector cell activity. In one embodiment, measurement of CTL-induced granzyme B activation in target cells is achieved through detection of the specific cleavage of fluorogenic granzyme B substrates. This assay reliably detects antigen-specific CTL killing of target cells, and provides a more sensitive, more informative and safer alternative to the standard 51Cr-release assay most often used to quantify CTL responses. The assay can be used to study CTL-mediated killing of primary host target cells of different cell lineages, and enables the study of antigen-specific cellular immune responses in real time at the single-cell level. As such, the assay can provide a valuable tool for studies of infectious disease pathogenesis and development of new vaccines and immunotherapies.

The present invention is directed to substituted indole-2-carboxylic acid benzylidene-hydrazides and analogs thereof, represented by the general Formula I: 1 wherein X, Ar.sub.1, R.sub.2-R.sub.6 and R.sub.12 are defined herein. The present invention also relates to the discovery that compounds having Formula I are activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis. The compounds 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 discloses a procaspase-3 immunohistochemical diagnosis kit and a detection method thereof. The kit comprises an immunohistochemical staining agent, which comprises an initial antibody, a second antibody, enzyme, a substrate, a color-developing agent, a blocking agent and buffer solution, wherein the initial antibody is connected with tissue antigen; the second antibody is connected with the initial antibody; and the blocking agent is positioned at a non-specific binding site. The kit can measure expression level of the procaspase-3 antigen and cell position condition in the testee tissue accurately, provides guidance for clinical application of medicaments using the procaspase-3 protein as a target spot, and provides reference for clinical diagnosis of malignant tumor, hepatic fibrosis, renal injury and neurodegenerative lesion. The invention also discloses a control picture for detecting expression level of the procaspase-3 protein. The control picture is provided with a procaspase-3 high-expression control region, a procaspase-3 medium-expression control region, a procaspase-3 non-expression (low-expression) control region and a procaspase-3 detection region for placing the tissue to be detected. The control picture provides an accurate evaluation criterion for evaluation of the expression level of the procaspase-3.

Disclosed are 3-aryl-6-aryl-7H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines and analogs thereof, represented by the Formula I: wherein Ar1, Q2, R1, R2, dashed line and X are defined herein. The present invention 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 may be used to induce cell death in a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.

A gene encoding a production amount-potentiating factor is introduced into an animal cell to transform the cell. Alternatively, a protein production gene and the gene encoding the production amount-potentiating factor are introduced into the animal cell to transform the cell. Herein, as the production amount potentiating factor, there is used a factor having caspase activity inhibiting activity and / or protein biosynthesis activity potentiating action, for example, baculovirus P35. Further, the animal cell is cultured by a culturing method under a condition that apoptosis is not induced, so that a protein is mass-produced.

The invention relates to the use of at least one caspase inhibitor, in particular a caspase-3 inhibitor, for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for the prophylaxis or therapy of a viral infection, in particular an infection with an RNA negative-strand virus, preferably an influenza infection, and to a test system for identifying suitable active substances.

One or more extracts selected from the group consisting of litchi, glasswort, peach, soja seed, sweet basil, cucumber, chanterelle, leek, kiwi fruit, rhubarb, grapefruit, wheat, raspberry, plum, and mixtures thereof, in a dermatologically acceptable carrier for use in topically treating caspase-14 deficiency in human skin.

The present invention provides a composition comprising a 5′-OH, 3′-TEG cholesteryl synthetic sequence wherein the sequence is SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8. The present invention provides methods of using this composition for induction of response in a cell, including but not limited to inhibition of cellular proliferation, induction of cell cycle arrest, induction of caspase activation, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, induction of apoptosis or modulation of extracellular matrix-cell interactions, or combinations thereof, in cancer cells or synovial cells, and methods of using this composition for treating disease.

This invention provides novel caspase inhibitors of formula I:wherein R1 is hydrogen, CHN2, R, or —CH2Y; R is an aliphatic group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, a heterocyclyl group, or a heterocyclylalkyl group; Y is an electronegative leaving group; R2 is CO2H, CH2CO2H, or esters, amides or isosteres thereof; X2—X1 is N(R3)—C(R3), C(R3)2—C(R3), C(R3)2—N, N═C, C(R3)═C, C(═O)—N, or C(═O)—C(R3); each R3 is independently selected from hydrogen or C1-6 aliphatic; Ring C is a fused aryl ring; n is 0, 1 or 2; and each methylene carbon in Ring A is optionally and independently substituted by ═O, or one or more halogen, C1-4 alkyl, or C1-4 alkoxy. The compounds are useful for treating caspase-mediated diseases.