49 results about "Pro-Apoptotic Proteins" patented technology

Undifferentiated primordial stem cells are manipulated to permit their long term growth in defined media lacking serum and feeder layer cells by shifting the apoptotic balance of the cells, through increasing the activity of Bcl-2 family anti-apoptotic proteins or decreasing the activity of Bcl-2 family pro-apoptotic proteins. In some embodiments of the invention, the Bcl family protein is Bcl-2. The ES cells sustain the characteristics of undifferentiated, pluripotent stem cells during long-term serum- and feeder layer cell-free conditions, including the ability to be expanded in vitro, but maintain their potential to differentiate into mature cell types.

The present invention relates to targeted killing of a cell utilizing a chimeric polypeptide comprising a cell-specific targeting moiety and a signal transduction pathway factor. In a preferred embodiment, the signal transduction pathway factor is an apoptosis-inducing factor, such as granzyme B, granzyme A, or Bax.

Single-domain anti-bodies that bind pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 are identified and isolated. These single-domain antibodies may be used to modulate the active of Bax and caspase-3, thereby modulating the symptoms and steps of oxidative stress and / or cell apoptosis, including Bax dimerization, mitochondrial permeabilization and the release of apoptotic proteins.

The present invention provides a nucleic acid comprising a) a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more pro-apoptotic proteins, and b) a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more tumor-specific and / or tissue-specific promoters. Also provided is a method of treating cancer, comprising administering the compositions of this invention to a subject.

An immunotherapeutic strategy is disclosed that combines antigen-encoding DNA vaccine compositions combined with siRNA directed to pro-apoptotic genes, primarily Bak and Bax, the products of which are known to lead to apoptotic death. Gene gun delivery (particle bombardment) of siRNA specific for Bak and / or Bax to antigen-expressing DCs prolongs the lives of such DCs and lead to enhanced generation of antigen-specific CD8+ T cell-mediated immune responses in vivo. Similarly, antigen-loaded DC's transfected with siRNA targeting Bak and / or Bax serve as improved immunogens and tumor immunotherapeutic agents.

The invention discloses a synthetic method of a mineralized sendai virus-based tumor combined treatment nano preparation, the method is used for synthesizing the photo-thermal tumor combined treatmentnano preparation through bionic simulation of a strategy of mineralizing sendai virus and ICG ((ICG + SEV) coated CaHPO4) by CaHPO4. The method comprises the following specific steps: 1) preparing anindocyanine green aqueous solution; and 2) synthesizing (ICG + SEV) coated CaHPO4 nano particles by a one-pot method. The sendai virus (SEV) can activate the immune function of the body in a whole body mode, and all-around killing and removing of tumors are achieved. The ICG has high photo-thermal conversion efficiency under near-infrared laser irradiation, and tumor photo-thermal treatment can be efficiently guided. The pro-apoptotic protease which promote each other and cause and cause each other exist in a pathway formed by calcium ion signals and tumor cell apoptosis, so that tumor cell apoptosis is accelerated. The composite nanoparticle integrating virus immunotherapy and photothermal therapy can improve the tumor treatment effect.

Provided herein are therapeutic nanoparticles having a diameter of between 10 nm to 30 nm, and containing a polymer coating, and a nucleic acid containing a sequence complementary to a sequence within a micro-RNA identified as having a role in cancer cell metastasis or anti-apoptotic activity in a cancer cell (e.g., miR-10b) or a sequence within an mRNA encoding a pro-apoptotic protein that is covalently linked to the nanoparticle. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing these therapeutic nanoparticles. Also provided herein are methods of decreasing cancer cell invasion or metastasis in a subject having a cancer and methods of treating a metastatic cancer in a lymph node in a subject that require the administration of these therapeutic nanoparticles to a subject.

Provided nucleic acid- based expression construct for the target cell-specific production of a therapeutic protein, such as a pro-apoptotic protein, within a target cell, including a target cell thatis associated with aging, disease, or other condition, in particular a target cell that is a senescent cell or a cancer cell. Also provided are formulations and systems, including fusogenic lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations and systems, for the delivery of nucleic acid-based expression constructs as well as methods for making and using such nucleic acid-based expression constructs, formulations, and systems for reducing, preventing, and / or eliminating the growth and / or survival of a cell, such as a senescent cell and / or a cancer cell, which is associated with aging, disease, or other condition as well as methods for the treatment of aging, disease, or other conditions by the in vivo administration of a formulation, such as a fusogenic LPN formulation, comprising an expression constructfor the target cell-specific, production of a therapeutic protein, such as a pro-apoptotic protein, in a target cell that is associated with aging, disease, or other condition, in particular a targetcell that is a senescent cell or a cancer cell.

The invention relates to the application of icariin in the preparation of a medicine for preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease. According to the invention, experiments such as a Morris water maze experiment, a Western blot experiment, an HE staining method and the like are carried out in an SAMP8 model mouse; it is proved that learning and memory disorder of SAMP8 mice can be reversed afterintragastric administration of ICA, icariin can down-regulate expression of BACE1 so as to reduce deposition of cytotoxic A beta 1-42. Besides, icariin can improve cognitive defects by increasing theexpression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, reducing the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and remarkably increasing the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax, so that neuronal apoptosis is inhibited, and neurons are protected. The invention provides further evidences for the clinical curative effect of icariin on Alzheimer's disease.

Nucleic acid compositions encoding a pro-apoptotic protein, Bok (Bcl-2-related ovarian killer) are identified. Bok has conserved Bcl-2 homology domains 1, 2 and 3 and a C-terminal transmembrane region present in other Bcl-2 related proteins, but lacks the BH4 domain found only in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. Over-expression of Bok induces apoptosis. Cell killing induced by Bok is suppressed by co-expression with selective anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. Bok is highly expressed in the ovary, testis and uterus, particularly in granulosa cells, the cell type that undergoes apoptosis during follicle atresia. Identification of Bok as a new pro-apoptotic protein with wide tissue distribution and hetero-dimerization properties facilitates elucidation of apoptosis mechanisms in reproductive and other tissues, and provides a means for manipulating apoptosis.

The invention discloses use of glaucocalyxin A in the preparation of a medicament for treating liver cancer. Specifically, the invention discloses the action of the glaucocalyxin A on liver cancer cells, and by destroying the mitochondrial membrane potential, causing Cyto-C outflow, inhibiting anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, promoting the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, and triggering caspase cascade reaction to induce apoptosis, a new therapeutic medicament for the treatment of liver cancer is provided.

The invention relates to treatment of autoimmune diseases, and particularly discloses compositions for treatment of autoimmune diseases or conditions that result in hair loss, such as alopecia. The compositions include first and second polynucleotides, wherein a) the first polynucleotide comprises a sequence encoding an autoantigen or an antigenic fragment thereof, with at least about 50% of CpG dinucleotide of the first polynucleotide being methylated; and b) the second polynucleotide comprises a sequence encoding a pro-apoptotic protein, or a functional pro-apoptotic fragment thereof, with the pro-apoptotic protein being selected from a group consisting of BAK, BAX, BIM, a death receptor 4, a death receptor 5 or a FAS receptor, wherein 15% or less of said CpG dinucleotide of the second polynucleotide is methylated. The compositions are used intradermally for inducing a tolerogenic immune response against said autoantigen.