The present disclosure relates to the use of a compound of formula (I)

##STR00001##

or anyone of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, in the treatment and/or prevention of an inflammatory disease; wherein:

##STR00002##

means an aromatic ring wherein V is C or N and when V is N; Q is N or O, provided that R does not exist when Q is O; R independently represent a hydrogen atom or a group chosen among a (C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a COOR.sub.1 group, a NO.sub.2 group, a NR.sub.1R.sub.2 group, a morpholinyl or a morpholino group, a N-methylpiperazinyl group, a (C.sub.1-C.sub.3)fluoroalkyl group, a OP(O)(OR.sub.3)(OR.sub.4) group, a (C.sub.1-C.sub.4)alkoxy group and a CN group, and can further be a group chosen among:

##STR00003##

Non-human animals, and methods and compositions for making and using the same, are provided, wherein said non-human animals comprise a humanization of an endogenous cluster of differentiation (CD) gene, in particular a humanization of a CD47 gene. Said non-human animals may be described, in some embodiments, as having a genetic modification to an endogenous CD47 gene so that said non-human animals express a CD47 polypeptide that includes a human portion and a non-human portion (e.g., a murine portion).

Contemplated systems and methods verify a patient's likely immune response to a neoepitope-based treatment by (a) assessing whether or not the patient's immune system is ready to mount an immune response, (b) determining prior response by patient immune-competent cells, and (c) determining the capability for patient immune-competent cells to respond to a future immune stimulus.

This invention provides a set of biological markers that are useful for detecting cancer. This invention further provides methods of using those biological markers for the diagnosis, prognosis, or monitoring of cancer.

The present invention provides compositions exhibiting in vivo activity of fibrin in an in vitro setting, in vitro assays comprising such compositions, methods of producing such compositions, and methods of using such compositions and assays. The compositions of the invention include molecules with the biochemical properties of 1) high affinity binding to fibrin receptors and 2) activation of cell-signaling systems comparable to that observed in vivo by fibrin. The fibrin compositions of the invention are compatible both in biochemical assays and cell-based assays, and thus useful for in vitro assays for screening of test agents that modulate cell activation and/or signaling pathways mediated by fibrin or associated with fibrin activity.

An icariside compound as shown in Formula I wherein the compound is a natural chemical component in the traditional Chinese herbal epimedium or a chemically modified or a totally synthetic product based on the natural component. The compound can be used for preparing pharmaceuticals, health care products, cosmetic and skin care products and the like for improvement of immunity in a human body.

Non-human animals, and methods and compositions for making and using the same, are provided, wherein said non-human animals comprise a humanization of an endogenous cluster of differentiation (CD) gene, in particular a humanization of a CD47 gene. Said non-human animals may be described, in some embodiments, as having a genetic modification to an endogenous CD47 gene so that said non-human animals express a CD47 polypeptide that includes a human portion and a non-human portion (e.g., a murine portion).

The invention is directed to compositions and methods for stimulating, enhancing or modulating the immune system of a patient before or after infection by a pathogen, and in particular MTB. Compositions of the invention contain non-naturally occurring antigens that generate an effective cellular and/or humoral immune response to MTB and/or antibodies that are specifically reactive to MTB antigens. The greater activity of the immune system generated by a vaccine of the invention increases generation of memory T cells that provide for a greater and/or extended response to an MTB infection. Responses involve an increased generation of antibodies that enhance immunity against MTB infection and promote an enhanced phagocytic response. Monoclonal antibodies produced by the non-naturally occurring antigens enhance phagocytosis and killing of mycobacteria by phagocytic cells, enhance clearance of MTB from the blood and modulate immunity and cytokine responses.

A method is provided herein to increase an immune response to an antigen. The method includes administering an agent that inhibits extracellular adenosine or inhibits adenosine receptors. Also disclosed are methods to increase the efficacy of a vaccine and to increase an immune response to a tumor antigen or immune cell-mediated tumor destruction.

An ex vivo method of determining the effect of an agent on catalysis by a Monocyte Phagocyte System (MPS) cell of a disease marker product and/or at least one fragment thereof associated with neurodegeneration and/or inflammatory activation. The method comprises: i) maintaining a sample of MPS cells under conditions in which the MPS cells remain alive, ii) exposing the sample of MPS cells to an agent and a disease marker product, to permit phagocytosis of the disease marker product by the MPS cells, iii) detecting the intracellular amount of the disease marker product and/or at least one fragment thereof in the sample of MPS cells, and iv) comparing the intracellular amount of the disease marker product and/or the at least one fragment thereof to an intracellular amount of the same disease marker product and/or at least one fragment thereof measured in control MPS cells in the absence of the agent. The effect of the agent on catalysis by MPS cells of the disease marker product and/or at least one fragment thereof is determined by the result of the comparison of step iv).