The present invention relates specific activation of a regulatory T cell via a specific CD4 epitope and uses thereof, e.g. for the treatment of an autoimmune disease or an allergy or asthma or graft rejection or tolerance induction.

Methods of treating or preventing allergic or pulmonary diseases characterized by endothelial dysfunction with Alda-1 are presented. Treatment of pulmonary endothelial cells subjected to hyperoxia with Alda-1 showed an increase in ALDH2 activity and expression. Treatment with Alda-1 also illustrated a decrease in oxidative stress, a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS), a decrease in apoptosis, a decrease in inflammation and an enhancement of mitochondrial membrane potential.

Methods of treating or preventing allergic or pulmonary diseases characterized by endothelial dysfunction with Alda-1 are presented. Treatment of pulmonary endothelial cells subjected to hyperoxia with Alda-1 showed an increase in ALDH2 activity and expression. Treatment with Alda-1 also illustrated a decrease in oxidative stress, a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS), a decrease in apoptosis, a decrease in inflammation and an enhancement of mitochondrial membrane potential.

A process for making nanoparticles of biocompatible materials is described, wherein an aqueous reaction mixture comprising cerous ion, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, an oxidant, water, and optionally citric acid, is provided along with temperature conditions to directly form within the reaction mixture, a stable dispersion of cerium oxide nanoparticles. Biocompatible, nanoparticles comprised of cerium oxide, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, and optionally citric acid, are described. An increase in catalase-like enzyme activity is demonstrated by cerium oxide nanoparticles prepared with citric acid and ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid.

Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition, comprising: a) at least one sorbitan unsaturated fatty acid ester having a polar head with at least two or more OH (hydroxyl) groups; b) at least one phospholipid; c) at least one liquid crystal hardener which is free of an ionizable group and has a triacyl group with 15 to 40 carbon atoms or a carbon ring structure in a hydrophobic moiety; and d) at least one GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) analogue as a pharmacologically active substance, wherein said lipid pre-concentrate exists as a liquid phase in absence of aqueous fluid and forms into a liquid crystal in presence of aqueous fluid. The pharmaceutical composition is configured to enhance the sustained release of the pharmacologically active substance GnRH analogue.

The present invention relates to a carbonic acid adduct (CAA) comprising carbonic acid, at least one amine, and optionally at least one salt, said adduct being producible by a method comprising the following steps: a) providing a solution (A) comprising dissolved CO.sub.2; optionally b) dissolving a base (BA) not corresponding to the amine (AM) in the solution (A) so as to obtain the solution (A1); c) dissolving the at least one amine (AM) in the solution (A) or (A1) so as to obtain the solution (B); d) freezing the solution obtained after completion of step c); and e) storing the solution frozen in step d) at 100 to 0 C. for no longer than 4 days. The content of CO.sub.2 in the solution that is subjected to step c) is at least 6 g/l. The invention also relates to a method for producing the carbonic acid adduct (CAA), a pharmaceutical preparation (PP) comprising the carbonic acid adduct (CAA), and methods for the production thereof and use of the carbonic acid adduct (CAA) or the pharmaceutical preparation (PP) in therapy for a range of indications.

The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, antibodies, or antigen-binding fragments thereof, that bind to C5a and to use of the antibodies in methods for treating or preventing complement-associated disorders such as, but not limited to, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, age-related macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, sepsis, severe burn, antiphospho lipid syndrome, asthma, lupus nephritis, Goodpasture's syndrome, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The invention provides polypeptides comprising a complement factor B analog. The invention also provides various complement factor B analogs including complement factor B analogs comprising a mutation of a free cysteine amino acid and related methods, nucleic acids and vectors. These complement factor B analogs and related methods, nucleic acids and vectors can be used to modulate a complement pathway or for the study and/or treatment of various conditions or diseases related to a complement pathway.

Provided are novel compounds of Formula (I):

##STR00001##

pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which are useful in the treatment of diseases and disorders mediated by ROR. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the novel compounds of Formula (I) and methods for their use in treating one or more inflammatory, metabolic, autoimmune and other diseases or disorders.

The present invention relates to amide derivatives of Formula (XIIIa) and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that modulate the activity of the PGI2 receptor. Compounds of the present invention and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are directed to methods useful in the treatment of: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH); idiopathic PAH; familial PAH; PAH associated with a collagen vascular disease, a congenital heart disease, portal hypertension, HIV infection, ingestion of a drug or toxin, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, splenectomy, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) or pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH); PAH with significant venous or capillary involvement; platelet aggregation; coronary artery disease; myocardial infarction; transient ischemic attack, angina; stroke; ischemia-reperfusion injury; restenosis; atrial fibrillation; blood clot formation in an angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery individual or in an individual suffering from atrial fibrillation; atherosclerosis; atherothrombosis; asthma or a symptom thereof; a diabetic-related disorder such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy or diabetic retinopathy; glaucoma or other disease of the eye with abnormal intraocular pressure; hypertension; inflammation; psoriasis; psoriatic arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; Crohn's disease; transplant rejection; multiple sclerosis; systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); ulcerative colitis; ischemia-reperfusion injury; restenosis; atherosclerosis; acne; type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes; sepsis; and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).