The present invention includes compositions and methods for treating diseases or disorders associated with pathological calcification or pathological ossification. In certain embodiments, the diseases or disorders are selected from the group consisting of Generalized Arterial Calcification of Infancy (GACI), Idiopathic Infantile Arterial Calcification (IIAC), Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL), hypophosphatemic rickets, osteoarthritis, calcification of atherosclerotic plaques, PXE, hereditary and non-hereditary forms of osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, hardening of the arteries occurring with aging, calciphylaxis resulting from end stage renal disease and progeria.

An immune-suppressing nanoparticle (NP) decorated with alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP), an anti-inflammatory protein, circumventing the resistance of breast tumor cells to chemotherapy in addition to suppressing the tumor metastasis and invasion is disclosed. Methods of making hyaluronic acid-chitosan nanoparticles decorated with AGP (AGP-HA NPs) by sequential ionic gelation, spray drying, and AGP-surface adsorption are also disclosed. Treatment options to strengthen the anti-cancer effects of chemotherapeutic agents and potentially improve the survival rate of patients with metastatic breast cancer using the disclosed AGP-HA NPs containing agents are also disclosed.

Sheet structures for regenerating damaged or diseased mammalian tissue that are formed from acellular dermal mammalian tissue. The acellular dermal mammalian tissue includes extracellular matrix (ECM) and a supplemental bioactive component. The supplemental bioactive component can comprise a nucleic acid, such as RNA, and/or a cell, such as an embryonic stem cell. The sheet structures induce angiogenesis and, thereby, regeneration of new mammalian tissue.

A zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) protein-derived peptide according to the present invention shows an expression reducing effect of various immune factors shown in acute or chronic atopic dermatitis, and has a decreased immune response and decreased IgE expression and thus may be used to prevent, treat or improve xeroderma or an abnormal skin barrier function such as atopic dermatitis, an allergic disease or inflammation.

CD47.sup.+ disease cells such as cancer cells are treated using a combination of CD47 blockade drug and a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. The anti-cancer effect of one drug enhances the anti-cancer effect of the other. Specific combinations include SIRPαFc as CD47 blockade drug, and one of depsipeptide and romidepsin as HDAC inhibitor. These combinations are useful particularly to treat blood cancers including lymphomas, leukemias and myelomas.

The invention concerns an alginate hydrogel or a new composition derived therefrom further comprising another calcium chelator such as sodium thiosulfate and/or calcium crystal solubilizer or inhibitor, and their use in the treatment of ectopic calcifications or disorders comprising ectopic calcifications.

The invention concerns an alginate hydrogel or a new composition derived therefrom further comprising another calcium chelator such as sodium thiosulfate and/or calcium crystal solubilizer or inhibitor, and their use in the treatment of ectopic calcifications or disorders comprising ectopic calcifications.

The invention provides formulations and methods for ameliorating symptoms associated with metabolic disorders, such as hypoglycemia, obesity, diabetes, and the like by targeted administration to the oesphagus of a subject of Zn-α.sub.2-glycoproteins or a functional fragment thereof, alone or in combination with additional agents, such as β adrenergin receptor agonists, β adrenergin receptor antagonists, and/or glycemic control agents.

Disclosed are immunization antigens that have been glyco-engineered to include non-native glycosylation patterns with a view to enhance their properties as antigens for use in such areas as vaccination and antibody production. Also disclosed are to means and methods for producing the glycomodified antigens as well of methods and uses of the glycomodified antigens.

Sortilin is a sorting receptor that directs target proteins to the secretary or endocytic compartments of cells that is found in both extracellular vesicles and cells. Provided herein are methods and compositions for decreasing or inhibiting trafficking of sortilin to an extracellular vesicle, for example by inhibiting the formation of intermolecular sortilin dimers.