The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating joint disorders that are characterized by an inflammatory component. In some aspects, the compositions and methods are to prevent the progression of osteoarthritis and other arthritides and to treat osteoarthritis and other arthritides in a mammalian joint.

This invention generally relates to the field of somatic gene therapy by using viral vectors, and in particular adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for the treatment of inherited or acquired diseases. More specifically, the invention relates to a viral capsid protein that provide for a specific transduction of murine endothelial cells for treating or preventing a heart disease in a primate. The viral capsid protein was found to specifically bind to primate heart tissue cells, and in particular primate heart muscle cells, and can be used to provide for an efficient and selective transduction of primate cardiomyocytes and ensure heart tissue-specific expression of one or more transgenes in the primate. The invention further relates to a recombinant viral vector, preferably an AAV vector, which comprises a capsid with at least one transgene packaged in the capsid. The viral vector is suitable for the therapeutic treatment of a cardiac disorder or disease in a primate. The invention further relates to cells and pharmaceutical compositions which comprise the viral vector according to the invention.

The present disclosure provides adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors and uses thereof. In certain embodiments, the AAV vectors comprise a nucleic acid that encodes an antagonist against a family with sequence similarity 19, member A5 (FAM19A5) protein, e.g., anti-FAM19A5 antibody, e.g., anti-FAM19A5 scFv.

An object of the present invention is to provide a non-human model animal rich in stromal tissue, a cell structure useful for producing the above-described non-human model animal, a method for evaluating a test substance in which the above-described non-human model animal is used, and a method for producing the above-described non-human model animal. According to the present invention, a cell structure is provided which contains a biocompatible macromolecular block and at least a cancer cell and a mesenchymal cell, and in which a plurality of the above-described biocompatible macromolecular blocks are arranged in gaps between a plurality of the above-described cells.

This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing cardiac xenograft rejection. For example, methods and materials for preparing transgenic pigs expressing reduced or no endogenous Sd.sup.a or SDa-like glycans derived from the porcine 1,4 N-acetyl-galactosaminyl transferase 2 (B4GALNT2) glycosyltransferase and/or reduced or no endogenous -Gal antigens, methods and materials for modifying the xenograft recipient's immunological response to non-Gal antigens (e.g. CD46, CD59, CD9, PROCR, and ANXA2) to reduce cardiac xenograft rejection, and methods and materials for monitoring the progress of xenotransplant immunologic rejection are provided.