MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Biotherapy' source. Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:28:42 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778848&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fd6750u131551j21l%2F Content TypeJournal Article JournalBiotherapyOnline ISSN 1573-8280Print ISSN 0921-299X Journal VolumeVolume 10 Journal IssueVolume 10, Number 3 / March, 1998 (Source: Biotherapy) Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778848 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:41 +0100 778848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778840&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fv34l0q758x78102j%2F Abstract  Heat shock proteins (HSP) have been shown to participate in the antitumor T cell response. First, HSP play a crucial role in the intracellular pathway for antigen processing where HSP can make complexes with a broad spectrum of cellular proteins and peptides through their chaperone functions. In this pathway, macrophages are required for processing the chaperoned peptides to make stable molecules with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, even when HSP-peptide complexes are exogenously administered. Through this pathway, vaccination with HSP-peptide complexes is thus able to elicit the response of CD8+ T cells specific for the chaperoned peptides. These findings suggest an essential role of HSP in ‘cross-priming’ and their usefulness fo... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778840 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:41 +0100 778840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778834&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F5658t2425n121193%2F Abstract  Multiple sclerosis is the major neurological disease of young adults in the western world, affecting about 1 per 1,000. It is characterised by chronic or recurrent lesions of inflammatory damage in the white matter of the central nervous system. Within such lesions, the protective myelin sheath is stripped off axons by infiltrated macrophages which leads to impaired conductivity. The inflammatory process most likely starts by activation of helper T cells directed against local myelin antigens. Currently, efforts are directed at specifically blocking such myelin-reactive helper T cells in order to control the disease. In this chapter, immunological features of multiple sclerosis and the experimental animal model for the disease, experimental allergic encephalomye... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778834 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:41 +0100 778834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2503764&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fk277w7w672752783%2F Abstract  Heat shock proteins, or stress proteins have been identified as part of a highly conserved cellular defence mechanism mediated by multiple, distinct gene familes and corresponding gene products. As intracellular chaperones, stress proteins participate in many essential biochemical pathways of protein maturation and function active during times of stress and during normal cellular homeostasis. In addition to their well-characterized role as protein chaperones, stress proteins are now realized to possess another important biological property: immunogenicity. Stress proteins are now understood to play a fundamental role in immune surveillance of infection and malignancy and this body of basic research has provided a framework for their clinical application. As key ta... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2503764 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:40 +0100 2503764 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2503763&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fb20716136k134665%2F Abstract  Protective immunity against mycobacteria is dependent on antigen/MHC class II specific, CD4+ Th1 cells. HLA-DR3-restricted Th1 cells respond to a subset of mycobacterial antigens, including the immunodominant hsp65, and recognize a single epitope in hsp65, notably p1-20. Altered peptide ligands (APL) of p1-20 can inhibit p1-20/hsp65-induced proliferation of DR3-restricted T cells in an allele specific mannerin vitro. In order to develop a preclinical model in which p1-20 APL can be testedin vivo in the context of HLA, we have used murine class II deficient, HLA transgenic (Ab0) mice, in which all CD4+ T cells are restricted by the tg HLA molecule. BCG-immunized DR3.Ab0 and DQ8.Ab0 mice both responded well to hsp65. Furthermore, DR3.Ab0 mice recognized precisely the sa... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2503763 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:40 +0100 2503763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2503762&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F418nk1657w023831%2F Abstract  Adjuvant Arthritis (AA) can be induced in Lewis rats by immunisation with mycobacterial antigens. The disease can be passively transferred with T cell clone A2b, which recognises the 180–188 amino acid sequence in mycobacterial heat shock protein 60 (hsp60) and which crossreacts with crude cartilage proteoglycans. We succeeded to induce peripheral tolerance to this AA-associated T cell epitope following nasal administration of a peptide containing this epitope (mycobacterial hsp60 176–190). In rats treated nasally with 176–190 and immunised with mycobacterial hsp60, proliferative responses to 176–190 were reduced. AA was inhibited nasally with 176–190 treated rats and not in rats nasally treated with a control mycobacterial hsp60 peptide (211–225). Mor... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2503762 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:40 +0100 2503762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2503761&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fl5t37238065431t3%2F Abstract  Induction of oral tolerance to antigens that are targets of self-reactive immune responses is an attractive approach to antigen-specific immune therapy of autoimmune diseases. Oral tolerization has indeed proven to be safe and effective in amelioration of autoimmune diseases in animal models. In humans, results have been somewhat controversial. The emphasis given to clinical outcome rather than to immunomodulation, and the difficulty in identifying appropriate candidate antigens contribute to the controversy. Heat shock proteins are promising targets for immune intervention. Immune reactivity to heat shock proteins has indeed been correlated with autoimmune arthritis in animal models, and abnormal immune responses to heat shock proteins have been described in huma... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2503761 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:40 +0100 2503761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2503760&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fc3n3515t8h2t4184%2F Abstract  OM-89 (Subreum) is anE. coli extract used for oral administration in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It contains bacterial heat shock proteins, namely hsp60 and hsp70, which were shown to be major immunogenic constitutents of the drug. Immunity to bacterial heat-shock antigens was shown to be a means of immunomodulation of (experimental) autoimmune disease and possibly inflammation in general. This was demonstrated for mycobacterial hsp60 respectively hsp70 in autoimmune disease models for arthritis, diabetes and encephalitis. Parallel to the effects displayed by immunisation with hsp, oral administration of hsp-containing OM-89 was found to modify autoimmune disease in a number of animal models, such as for arthritis, diabetes and SLE. In rats immunisation ... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2503760 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:40 +0100 2503760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778847&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fu2x5lwp7v7m04443%2F Abstract  Whether heat shock proteins (hsp) will be therapeutic targets in arthritis depends on their role in pathogenesis. In this article, three possibilities are considered. Firstly, an excessive immune response to bacterial hsp could be arthritogenic — as may occur in reactive arthritis. In these circumstances therapy would be directed to down-regulating this immune response, or altering the nature of the immune response e.g. by changing cytokine production from interferon-g to IL-4. However this approach depends on the immune response to bacterial hsp not being critical for control of the bacterial infection. Secondly, an immune response to bacterial hsp may induce autoimmunity by cross-reactivity, e.g. with the homologous human. This could also be modulated in the s... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778847 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:40 +0100 778847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778845&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F311546753572178t%2F Abstract  The occurrence of antibody formation in patients administered biologically active human proteins as biotherapy for different diseases emphasizes the importance of establishing a common method of reporting neutralizing antibody levels for such cytokines. For quantitative neutralization bioassays, the preferred expression of the neutralizing potency of an antiserum is a titer, that is, the dilution of serum that reduces 10 Laboratory Units (LU)/ml of the cytokine to 1 Laboratory Unit/ml, the endpoint of most bioassays. This 10-to-1 LU/ml expression, which has been recommended by the World Health Organization for recording the results of interferon neutralization by the constant interferon method (with varying dilutions of serum) can also be used with the constant an... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778845 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:40 +0100 778845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2503765&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F2375421x301w0099%2F Abstract  Low amounts of high-affinity autoantibodies to various cytokines have been detected in sera from healthy donors. Their levels, although highly variable, are increased in the circulation of patients subjected to cytokine therapy or suffering from a variety of immunoinflammatory diseases. It has been suggested that these autoantibodies play a regulatory role in the intensity and duration of an immune response. The antibodies may prevent the binding of a cytokine to its specific cell surface receptor thereby neutralizing its biological activityin vivo. They may also act as carrier proteins preventing the rapid elimination of a cytokine from the circulation and thus increase its bioactivity. Additionally or alternatively, autoantibodies may modulate cytokine-induced in... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2503765 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:39 +0100 2503765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778851&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fr30l32r11u134405%2F Abstract  Natural antibodies to interferon (IFN)-γ were detected in the serum of virus-infected patients and also, at a low titre, in the serum of healthy subjects. The increased titre of antibodies to IFN-γ in the sera of virus-infected patients, and its decrease with clinical resolution, indicate that these antibodies are related to viral infection and probably reflect IFN-γ production as a result of antigenic stimulationin vivo. Natural antibodies to IFN-γ were affinity purified and studied for their capability to interferein vitro with the multiple activities of the lymphokine. Data obtained show that these human anti-IFN-γ antibodies have no inhibitory effect on the antiviral and antiproliferative activity of IFN-γ and do not interfere with the binding of the lymph... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778851 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:39 +0100 778851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778850&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fa57805g123qgrm17%2F Abstract  IFN-γ is an important regulator of immune responses and inflammation. Studies in animal models of inflammation, autoimmunity, cancer, transplant rejection and delayed-type hypersensitivity have indicated that administration of antibodies against IFN-γ can prevent the occurrence of diseases or alleviate disease manifestations. Therefore, it is speculated that such antibodies may have therapeutical efficacy in human diseases. Since animal-derived antibodies are immunogenic in patients several strategies are being developed in order to reduce or abolish this human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) response. In our laboratory, we have constructed a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) derived from a mouse antibody with neutralizing potential for human IFN-γ. A scFv consi... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778850 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:39 +0100 778850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778838&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Ftx8657l650n21r57%2F Abstract  Several assays have been used for detection of antibodies against cytokines. The choice of assay is greatly dependent on the intended goal, e.g. detection of naturally occurring antibodies or therapy induced antibodies. The different assays can be grouped in 2 categories. The interference or indirect assays are based on the detection of the test sample interference with the biological activity, with detection of the cytokine in EIA or with binding to cellular receptors. In direct assays cytokine antibodies are detected by binding to solid phase fixed cytokines, followed by incubation with a secondary enzyme-labelled anti-human Ig antibody or by binding to125I-labelled cytokines in RIA. Content TypeJournal Article JournalBiotherapyOnline ISSN 1573-8280Print ... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778838 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:39 +0100 778838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778836&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fjg67g6252840v5u2%2F Abstract  Type I IFNs constitute a family of proteins exhibiting high homology in primary, secondary, and tertiary structures. They interact with the same receptor and transmit signals to cellular nucleus through a similar mechanism, eliciting roughly homogeneous biological activity. Nevertheless, the members of that family, IFNα species, IFNβ and IFNω, due to local differences in the structure sometime show distinct properties. From the reported data it results that even minute changes or differences in the primary sequences could be responsible for a significant variety of biological actions, thus inducing to the hypothesis that Type I IFNs, rather than to be the result of a redundant replication during the evolution, play definite roles in the defense of living organis... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778836 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:39 +0100 778836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2678171&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F875777437v145644%2F Abstract  It has been reported that immunologic function is deteriorated in head and neck cancer patients by primary therapies such as surgery, irradiation and chemotherapy or tumor itself. As previously described by us, immunologic dysfunction in such patients may be recovered by treatment with BRMs. In the present study, we investigated the effects of BRMs on survival of patients who had primarily been treated in our clinic. Fifty-one patients (23 patients; Stage I or Stage II, 28 patients; Stage III or Stage IV) were treated with BRMs (BRM group), and 49 patients (22 patients; Stage I or Stage II, 27 patients; Stage III or Stage IV) were employed as controls (Control group). The results obtained were as follows: (1) In patients of all Stages, the survival period was si... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2678171 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:38 +0100 2678171 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2503767&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fg332674816702517%2F Abstract  In this paper, we examine the effects of SPG, which is a well known BRM, both in vivo and in vitro on the neutrophilic ROS production and the serum opsonic activity by the chemiluminescence technique using luminol as a probe. To investigate the in vivo effects, SPG was administered to 12 healthy male volunteers and two phases of enhancement of the neutrophilic ROS production and the serum opsonic activity were observed. In vitro, the addition of SPG showed a dose-dependent suppression. To investigate the mechanisms in these contradictory effects of SPG, supernatants of a lymphocytes culture medium in the presence of SPG with or without mitogen were added to the neutrophils. The addition of supernatants at a lower concentration of SPG (0.01 mg/ml) with mitogens s... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2503767 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:38 +0100 2503767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2503766&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F92346704321p28lu%2F Abstract  Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a 15 kDa glycoprotein with proven activity as an immune stimulant in the treatment of malignant disorders, congenital and acquired immune deficiencies, infectious disorders, and as an adjuvant to vaccines. Both natural and recombinant type IL-2 preparations have been applied in clinical treatment trials and have turned out to be immunogenic, although to a varying extent. Enzyme immunoassays and western blotting are standard procedures for the detection of IL-2-binding antibodies, whereas the neutralizing capacity of these antibodies is frequently demonstrated by inhibition of IL-2-dependent cell growth in vitro. The rate of treatment-induced IL-2 antibodies has varied from 0% to 100% in reported trials and frequently exceeded 50% in patient... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2503766 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:38 +0100 2503766 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778842&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fq8805302183208x7%2F Abstract  It is well known that natural and recombinant proteins can cause antibody formation in the host. We have studied the incidence of binding and neutralizing antibodies in carcinoid patients (n=327). All together 204 patients received interferon-α 2b (Intron-A), median does 15 MU range 9–35 MU/week subcutaneously and 51% of the patients developed binding antibodies by immunoassay and 17% showed positive neutralization assay but high titer antibodies (>800 NU/ml) were only found in 4% of the patients. The median time until the development of binding antibodies was 26 months and neutralizing antibodies 25 months. Twenty-nine patients received interferon-α 2a (Roferon), median does 18 MU/week subcutaneously and 45% developed binding antibodies, 38% had positive n... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778842 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:38 +0100 778842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778841&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F1x072774n3u642ul%2F Abstract  Interferons (IFNs) are generally recognized as the most important therapeutic agent in some infectious diseases such as chronic hepatitis B and C. Since the early clinical trials it was documented that the therapeutic use of IFNs could be complicated by the development of antibodies able to neutralize or to bind to the IFN molecule. After several years of research it is now widely accepted that the presence of circulating anti-IFN antibodies may affect the response to IFN. Here we summarize what is currently know on the clinical significance of antibodies to IFN in IFN-treated viral diseases patients. Content TypeJournal Article JournalBiotherapyOnline ISSN 1573-8280Print ISSN 0921-299X Journal VolumeVolume 10 Journal IssueVolume 10, Numbe... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778841 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:38 +0100 778841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778839&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fh62j3mvm51p8j7mx%2F Abstract  Natural antibodies to human interleukin-2 are present in sera of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus and also, at a lower titre, in sera of healthy individuals. These antibodies could be purified by affinity-chromatography. Purified human anti-hIL-2 antibodies can interfere with lymphocyte proliferation both in the lymphokine activated killer cell assay and in the mixed lymphocyte culture. The neutralizing activity observedin vitro suggests that these antibodies play a role in the elaborate cytokine network by which the immune system regulates its response. Content TypeJournal Article JournalBiotherapyOnline ISSN 1573-8280Print ISSN 0921-299X Journal VolumeVolume 10 Journal IssueVolume 10, Number 1 / September, 1997 (Source: Biotherapy... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778839 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:38 +0100 778839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778853&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fy74202l19613n4u7%2F Abstract  We previously reported that the antitumor effect of OK-432, a streptococcal preparation, was markedly augmented when this agent was injected into tumors together with fibrinogen. In order to elucidate the effect of this treatment on the spleen, we assessed splenic function in gastric cancer patients receiving preoperative local immunotherapy with OK-432 and fibrinogen. Immunohistochemical studies of the spleen at 7 days after intratumoral injection therapy revealed numerous macrophages phagocytizing OK-432 in the splenic sinuses. Phenotypic analysis of splenocytes by flow cytometry revealed an increase in the CD4/CD8 ratio and in the expression of HLA-DR, CD25, and Leu M3 by splenic T cells of the patients treated with OK-432 plus fibrinogen when compared to patie... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778853 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:37 +0100 778853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778852&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Ff873r7488t57w531%2F Abstract  The modulation of NK activity by muramyl dipeptides derivatives against Ab (amelanotic) Bomirski melanoma and human erythroleukemia K562 cells was studied in vitro. The stimulatory effect was observed for 3 of 7 muramyl dipeptides: MDP(L-Ala)C921, MDPC857 and L18-MDP(Ala) in relation to cytotoxic activity of NK cells obtained from peripheral blood and spleen of healthy and Ab Bomirski melanoma bearing hamsters. An increased of cytotoxic activity NK cells isolated from animals before and during the transplantable phase of the tumor against K562 was found. A similar stimulation was received for NK cells obtained from animals against their own melanoma cells. The most significant influence of examined MDP derivatives on the cytotoxic activity of NK cells were obtaine... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778852 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:37 +0100 778852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778843&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F061j1184413n7k77%2F Conclusion: IFN alpha treatment given from the early stages of infection, but not after the appearance of AIDS symptoms, can prolong survival. Content TypeJournal Article JournalBiotherapyOnline ISSN 1573-8280Print ISSN 0921-299X Journal VolumeVolume 10 Journal IssueVolume 10, Number 2 / June, 1997 (Source: Biotherapy) Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778843 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:37 +0100 778843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778837&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fm13766w6m48254v4%2F Abstract  Thrombopoietin (TPO) or Mpl ligand is the primary physiological regulator of platelet production. This cytokine is the most potent stimulator of the proliferation and differentiation of MK progenitor and precursor cellsin vitro. It also acts additively or synergistically with several cytokines on progenitor cells from various hematopoietic lineages, including the primitive stem cells. The factor is an extremely potent thrombocytopoietic agent when administrated to normal animals, and it accelerates platelet and erythropoietic recovery in several models of myelosuppression. Phase I/II clinical trials are ongoing with no detectable adverse effects. Mpl ligand does not induce platelet aggregation, but it lowers the platelet sensitivity to physiological dose of agonist... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778837 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:36 +0100 778837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778849&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fdwr77u1p412437r5%2F Abstract  Homeobox genes encode transcription factors containing a common DNA-binding motif found in virtually all animal species. Different homeobox gene families have evolved which encode homeodomains of different types or classes and thus far approximately 170 homeobox genes have been cloned. Homeoproteins are involved in the control of animal development and several lines of evidence strongly suggest that they may contribute to the regulation of hematopoiesis. Many members of this large family are expressed in blood cells. Moreover, homeobox containing genes have been involved in translocation events occurring in certain leukemias and lymphomas. Furthermore a number of studies indicate that modulation of homeobox gene expression may induce alterations in proliferative, ... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778849 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:35 +0100 778849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778846&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F5n018g26213645x6%2F Content TypeJournal Article JournalBiotherapyOnline ISSN 1573-8280Print ISSN 0921-299X Journal VolumeVolume 10 Journal IssueVolume 10, Number 4 / December, 1998 (Source: Biotherapy) Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778846 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:35 +0100 778846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778844&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Flw92502743g32454%2F Abstract  Serum samples obtained from non-immunocompromised patients treated therapeutically with recombinant cytokines (e.g. Il-1α; Il-1β; Il-2 to Il-18; IFNα; GM-CSF; G-CSF; etc.) often reveal the presence of high affinity anti-cytokine antibodies. Antibody Fab binding in a saturable manner by ELISA and RIA or western immunoblotting prove their specificity. Antibody level often increases in these patients with repeated cytokine administration, suggesting boosts of antigen stimulation. However, the appearance in circulation of auto-antibodies to exogenous cytokine is not always associated with a decreased clinical response to therapy. The demonstration that non-neutralizing auto-antibodies to several natural cytokines can be found even in sera of normal healthy individual... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778844 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:35 +0100 778844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=778835&cid=s_35911_61_f&fid=35911&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fv40w7v17j1831578%2F Abstract  Hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) sustain the survival, proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and some functions of mature blood cells. In man several HGFs have been characterised and cloned so far, and this has allowed investigators to confer the rationale for the clinical application of these molecules in hematology and oncology. In particular G-CSF and GM-CSF are currently utilised to abrogate the hematological toxicity of chemotherapy for standard and dose-intensified therapy, neutropenia following bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Moreover there has recently been great interest in the ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells for a variety of applications, such as in vitro tumor cell purgi... Biotherapy journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=778835 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:21:35 +0100 778835