A detoxification method includes the steps of inducing flow of patient blood through an extracorporeal device inlet and outlet in fluid connection to the circulatory system of a patient. Biological agents including lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contained within patient blood can be detoxified by passing patient blood over a biochemical reactor surface having attached or immobilized Saccharomyces boulardii alkaline phosphatase enzyme, with the biochemical reactor being contained within the extracorporeal device.

The present invention relates to a fusion protein selectively binding collagen and having ectonucleotidase activity. The fusion protein comprises an amino acid sequence of the extracellular domain of glycoprotein VI fused via a first linker sequence to the N-terminus of an amino acid sequence of an Fc region, whereby the C-terminus of the Fc region is linked via a second linker sequence to an amino acid sequence of the extracellular domain of a CD39 protein.

The fusion protein is useful in the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular disease or diabetes, such as in the treatment of acute atherothrombotic events with a favorable risk-benefit ratio.

In spite of significant efforts to identify -cell-specific markers for -cell imaging and purification, progress has been limited. Herein is disclosed a novel biomarker of human pancreatic -cells, CD39L3 (also known as ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-3 (NTPDase3)). Disclosed are compositions and methods for purifying and imaging -cell using anti-CD39L3 antibodies.

The present invention relates to methods for treating ischemic events in a patient, especially ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke, by administrating a recombinant apyrase protein in conjunction with a P2Y.sub.12 inhibitor.

Embodiments of various aspects described herein are directed to methods and compositions for producing a tolerogenic or immunosuppressive dendritic cell. In particular, an immunosuppressive dendritic cell can be produced by contacting a dendritic cell with an agent that stimulates the IL-27/ectonucleotidase CD39 axis signaling. In some embodiments, the methods and/or compositions described herein can be used for treating an autoimmune disease or disorder, e.g., but not limited to multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes.

The present disclosure relates to cells, tissues, organs, and/or animals having one or more modified genes for enhanced xenograft survival and/or tolerance. In addition, the present disclosure relates to methods of making and using the cells, tissues, organs, and/or animals having one or more of the modified genes.

In combination with conventional therapies (e.g. targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and angiogenesis inhibitors etc.), immunotherapies targeting checkpoint molecules have shown promise in the treatment of solid or liquid tumors. However, the role of non-tumor cells in the intratumoral microenvironment has indicated that ablation of these cells may be a key to mounting an effective immune response against the tumor which includes tumor infiltration of cytotoxic T-cells and other anti-tumor cells of the immune system. The present invention not only brings up direct inhibition on the ectonucleotidase activity of NTPDase3 as an enzyme that generates adenosine, but also further utilizes NTPDase3 expression to bring about intratumoral cell ablation by NTPDase3-dependent ADCC.

Embodiments of various aspects described herein are directed to methods and compositions for producing a tolerognic or immunosuppressive dendritic cell. In particular, an immunosuppressive dendritic cell can be produced by contacting a dendritic cell with an agent that stimulates the IL 27/ectonucleotidase CD39 axis signaling. In some embodiments, the methods and/or compositions described herein can be used for treating an autoimmune disease or disorder, e.g., but not limited to multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes.

A kit for detecting bacterial ATP in a sample is provided. The kit comprises an aqueous composition having a pH of about 6.0 to 7.2. The aqueous composition comprises effective amounts of a polyol, a buffer reagent, a protein, and ATP-diphosphohydrolase. A method of using the kit to detect bacterial ATP is also provided.

An apyrase enzyme, characterized by that the apyrase comprises a polypeptide sequence having at least 70% sequence identity to the wild-type Shigella flexneri apyrase of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said sequence differs from SEQ ID NO:1 at least in that the sequence comprises at least one amino-acid substitution of a residue aligning with a residue selected from: F53, L66 and E77; and the apyrase catalyzes the dephosphorylation of at least one organic phosphate with at least 10-fold lower K.sub.m compared to the apyrase of SEQ ID NO:1. Uses of said apyrase in ATP elimination and dephosphorylation of organic phosphates.