A chimeric protein is disclosed for promoting repair and regeneration of neurons damaged by disease or physical injury wherein the chimeric protein is a combination of a first polypeptide possessing matrix modification activity and a second polypeptide possessing regenerating activity for neural cells.

Methods and combinations are provided for controlling the duration of action, in vivo, of matrix-degrading enzymes. The methods and combinations permit temporary in-vivo activation of matrix-degrading enzymes upon administration to the extra cellular matrix (or “ECM”). Matrix-degrading enzymes having a controlled duration of action can be used to treat ECM-mediated diseases or disorders characterized by increased deposition or accumulation of one or more ECM components.

Described are compositions, in particular lyophilizates, containing proteolytic enzymes, and methods for producing the compositions. Typically these compositions contain one or more proteases with collagenase activity and a neutral protease, for example, thermolysin. The compositions are free of acetate salts. Surprisingly, such compositions can be dissolved in water more rapidly than lyophilized protease mixtures of the state of the art.

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

A method of treating a patient who has glioblastoma and/or gastric cancer includes administering to said patient a composition containing a population of activated T cells that selectively recognize cells in the patient that aberrantly express a peptide. A pharmaceutical composition contains activated T cells that selectively recognize cells in a patient that aberrantly express a peptide, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, in which the T cells bind to the peptide in a complex with an MHC class I molecule, and the composition is for treating the patient who has glioblastoma and/or gastric cancer. A method of treating a patient who has glioblastoma and/or gastric cancer includes administering to said patient a composition comprising a peptide in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, thereby inducing a T-cell response to the glioblastoma and/or gastric cancer.

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

Provided are purification methods and uses of a recombinant mutant collagenase, and methods for preparing high-purity mutant ColH and the purified enzyme product. The method for preparing high-purity mutant ColH includes expressing recombinant mutant collagenase protein with single mutation of E451D in ColH by using specific host strain E. coli BL21 (DE3), and improving yield of the target protein after induction by low-temperature fermentation. The purification includes five steps: Capto Phenyl HS hydrophobic interaction chromatography; Capto Q anion exchange chromatography; Capto Octyl hydrophobic interaction chromatography; Phenyl HP hydrophobic interaction chromatography and Source 15Q anion exchange chromatography. The target protein obtained has purity of over 98%.

Recombinant C—X—C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL) peptides modified to introduce a cleavage site for a protease, such as a protease activated during an inflammatory response, are described. The CXCL peptides have the capacity to activate CXCR3 until being cleaved by the protease. Proteolytic cleavage of the CXCL peptide minimizes the pro-inflammatory response and inhibits the development of fibrosis.

A method of treating a patient who has glioblastoma and/or gastric cancer includes administering to said patient a composition containing a population of activated T cells that selectively recognize cells in the patient that aberrantly express a peptide. A pharmaceutical composition contains activated T cells that selectively recognize cells in a patient that aberrantly express a peptide, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, in which the T cells bind to the peptide in a complex with an WIC class I molecule, and the composition is for treating the patient who has glioblastoma and/or gastric cancer. A method of treating a patient who has glioblastoma and/or gastric cancer includes administering to said patient a composition comprising a peptide in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, thereby inducing a T-cell response to the glioblastoma and/or gastric cancer.

This invention provides a compound having the structure

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wherein α, β, X, Y, and R.sub.1-R.sub.11 are defined herein. This invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the above compounds, a method of inhibiting the activity and/or levels of a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), a method of inhibiting the production of a cytokine in a population of cells, a method of inhibiting the production of a growth factor in a population of cells, and a method of inhibiting NF.sub.K-B activation in a population of cells.