Main Menu

Cardiovascular disorders associated with endothelial dysfunction, like atherosclerosis, have decreased endothelial nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. L-arginine, the primary substrate for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), is important in the regulation of NO production. Arginase competes with eNOS for L-arginine and has been implicated in the endothelial dysfunction. NIH investigators have generated transgenic mice with human ArgII (hArgII) gene under control of endothelial-specific Tie2 promoter. In these mice, hArgII was expressed at very high levels in all tissues except liver.

Available for licensing is a mouse model that constitutively expresses human interleukin-21 (IL-21). Traditionally, human IL-21 transgenic mouse models are difficult to produce as those with high IL-21 levels exhibit growth retardation and die before sexual maturity. The investigators generated transgenic mice that express human IL-21, which can stimulate murine cells in vitro thereby providing an accurate model to elucidate IL-21's role in immunity, immune disorders, and cancer.

Atherosclerosis underlies most cases of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is now the major cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. An inflammatory reaction is an essential component in the appearance and development of an atherosclerotic lesion. The inflammatory process is associated with the expression of adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) at the surface of endothelial cells. Antiatherogenic lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein (HDL), is known to down regulate the expression of VCAM.

The invention is a STAT5 mutant mouse that can be used in research related to cancer, autoimmunity and infectious diseases as well as drug screening. The mouse model itself has multiple immunological defects resulting in formation of STAT5 dimers but not tetramers.

Salen-manganese compounds are synthetic, stable, low toxicity, low cost agents that may provide protection from immune reaction-related oxidative cell damage associated with many illnesses. In particular, oxidative cell damage has been associated with many viral infections including influenza. This invention demonstrates that treating mice with salen-manganese compounds, after lethal pandemic influenza virus infection, significantly enhances survival. Salen-manganese treatment also reduces lung pathology and also improved cellular recovery and repair.

The invention is directed to modification of a particular sugar by the enzyme arylsulfatase B (ARSB), which results in axon regeneration.

Available for licensing and commercial development are intellectual property rights covering a method of imaging a biological specimen (e.g., human tissue) using fluorescent nanodiamonds implanted into the subject of interest, applying a magnetic field to said subject and producing a resultant image by a net juxtaposition of a second acquired image. This process suppresses the background and permits selective imaging of the nanodiamonds in the presence of background fluorescence that exceeds the signal from the nanodiamonds.

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection causes fifth disease, a disease characterized by rashes to the face and other parts of the body that primarily affects children. However, adults can also develop fifth disease and it can lead to more severe conditions. Patients that are immunocompromised, such as those who are HIV infected, organ transplant recipients, and cancer patients, can be particularly susceptible to more severe outcomes from B19V infection. Infection can also cause anemia and in pregnant women, it can lead to hydrops fetalis.

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.

The invention pertains to devices for directly infusing cellular therapeutics into patient bone. The device monitors intra-bone pressure using pressure sensors disposed at its proximal end and adjusts infusion pressures during infusion such that intra-bone pressure does not exceed levels of systemic blood pressure. Such devices, apparatus and methods are particularly suitable for use in performing bone marrow transplants, particularly transplants that utilize cord blood as a stem cell source.