Glucocorticoid-induced TNFR Family-Related Receptor Ligand (GITRL) Antibodies for Diagnosis and Treatment of Immune System Disorders

This technology provides novel antibodies and methods for diagnostics and treatment of disorders arising from dysregulation of the immune system using antibodies directed against glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family-related receptor ligand (GITRL). Also available are hybridomas producing anti-mouse GITRL monoclonal antibodies (clone 5F1).

Derivatives of Docosahexaenoylethanolamide (DEA) for Neurogenesis

The invention pertains to derivatives of docosahexaenoylethanolamide (synaptamide or DEA) and their use in inducing neurogenesis, neurite growth, and/or synaptogenesis. As such, these DEA derivatives can be used as therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The DEA derivatives of the invention have increased potency and hydrolysis resistance as compared to native DEA.

Novel Tocopherol and Tocopheryl Quinone Derivatives as Therapeutics for Lysosomal Storage Disorders

Novel tocopherol derivatives and tocopheryl quinone derivatives useful in the decrease of lysosomal substrate accumulation, the restoration of normal lysosomal size, and the treatment of lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are provided. The inventors have discovered that tocopherol and tocopheryl quinone derivatives with side chain modifications (such as terminal tri-halogenated methyl groups) exhibit improved pharmacokinetics, modulation of mitochondrial potential and restoration of some LSDs phenotypes.

Highly Potent and Selective Deubiquitinating Enzyme Inhibitor

Available for licensing are inhibitors that target the USP1/ UAF1 deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) complex. The FDA approval and commercial success of Velcade®, a small molecule proteasome inhibitor, has established the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) as a valid target for anticancer treatment. However, proteasome inhibitors in general suffer from a narrow therapeutic index and acquired resistance. A promising alternative to proteasome inhibition has been to target the enzymes upstream of proteasome-mediated protein degradation, i.e.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generated Using Lentivirus-based Reprogramming

Five human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) lines are generated using lentivirus-based reprogramming technology. These lines are pluripotent, meaning they have the potential to differentiate into all cells in the body, and theoretically can proliferate/self-renew indefinitely. The iPSC lines are: NC1 (derived from female's fibroblasts), NC2 (derived from female's fibroblasts ), NC3 (derived from male's HUVECS), NC4 (derived from male's fibroblasts) and NC5 (derived from female's fibroblasts). Further details of these cells are available upon request.

Engineered Anthrax Toxin Variants that Target Cancer

This technology describes the use of novel mutated anthrax protective antigen (PA) protein variants to target tumor cells and tumor vasculature. NIH scientists have engineered two PA variants that selectively complement one another and combine to form active octamers that target tumor cells. This controlled oligomeric activation of the PA proteins makes the likelihood of toxicity to non-tumor cells very low since non-tumor tissue does not express certain cell-surface proteases required to activate the PA variants.

Transgenic Mice with Constitutively Active M3 Muscarinic Receptor in Islet Beta Cells

Q490L point mutation was introduced into the rat M3 muscarinic receptor cDNA to confer persistent, constitutive (ligand-independent) activity. Expression of the M3 receptor mutant was placed under the control of a 650 bp fragment of the rat insulin promoter II (RIP II) to limit expression to the islet beta cell.