Non-human animals (and/or non-human cells) and methods of using and making the same are provided, which non-human animals (and/or non-human cells) have a genome comprising human antibody-encoding sequences (i.e., immunoglobulin genes). Non-human animals described herein express antibodies that contain human Ig light chains, in whole or in part. In particular, non-human animals provided herein are, in some embodiments, characterized by expression of antibodies that contain human Ig light chains, in whole or in part, that are encoded by human Ig light chain-encoding sequences inserted into an endogenous Ig light chain locus of said non-human animals. Methods for producing antibodies from non-human animals are also provided.

The present invention has found that chimeric animals suffer from noticeable inflammation after birth, though neither immune response nor inflammation in the fetal period of these animals has been reported hitherto. This is an unexpected finding since chimeric animals in the fetal period were exclusively analyzed in prior studies and thus it is deemed that immunotolerance has been theoretically established therein. The present invention provides a composition for suppressing immune response or inflammation in the fetal period of a born chimeric animal.

Transgenic mammals that express canine-based immunoglobulins are described herein, including transgenic rodents that express canine-based immunoglobulins for the development of canine therapeutic antibodies.

Disclosed are Syntaxin 4-overexpressing pancreatic islet -cells, methods of making these cells, and methods of using these cells for promoting and protecting functional -cell mass, thereby to treat and/or prevent various insulin-related diseases and conditions including diabetes and pre-diabetes. Also disclosed are methods of treating or preventing insulin-related diseases by overexpressing Syntaxin-4.

Provided are a psoriasis-induced transgenic animal model overexpressing the Pellino homolog 1 (Peli1) gene according to doxycycline administration, and a use thereof. The transgenic animal model of the present disclosure exhibited similarity to phenotypes shown in patients with psoriasis, due to overexpression of the Pellino homolog 1 (Peli1) gene according to doxycycline administration. It is anticipated that the transgenic animal model may be usefully used in clinical studies, such as screening for a candidate drug for the treatment of psoriasis. Additionally, it is anticipated that a peptide derived from the Peli1 FHA domain targeting the FHA binding motif that inhibits normal substrate binding between a substrate protein and the Peli1 protein may be usefully used in the development of new drugs for psoriasis-associated diseases. Moreover, by confirming an expression level of the Peli1 protein, it is anticipated to be usefully used in evaluating the severity of patients with psoriasis.

This disclosure provides ungulate embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from the inner cell mass of pre-implantation blastocysts or pluripotent cells from embryos. From an agricultural and biomedical perspectives, the derivation of stable ESCs from domestic ungulates is important for genomic testing and selection, genetic engineering, and providing an experimental tool for studying human diseases. Cattle are one of the most important domestic ungulates that are commonly used for food and bioreactors.

This invention provides methods of treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA), acne, rosacea, prostate cancer, and benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), comprising the step of contacting a subject with a compound or composition capable of decreasing prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) level or activity, a downstream signaling or receptor pathway thereof, or prostaglandin D2 synthase level or activity; methods of stimulating hair growth, comprising the step of contacting a subject with a compound or composition capable of increasing or decreasing the activity or level of a target gene of the present invention, or with a protein product of the target gene or an analogue or mimetic thereof; and methods of testing for AGA and evaluating therapeutic methods thereof, comprising measuring PGD2 levels.

A method for expression of transcribable unit(s) in a target cell is provided. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing a target cell expressing a site-specific recombinase, b) providing a DNA vector characterized by a 5 to 3 vector sequence orientation. The DNA vector comprises a plurality of recombination units, wherein a single recombination unit comprises at least one transcribable unit and a first type and a second type of target site that are recognizable by the site-specific recombinase. Recombination can only occur between two target sites of the same type and the first type of target site is located at the 5 start of the recombination unit and the second type of target site is located at the 3 end of the recombination unit. For all recombination units comprised within the DNA vector, the orientation of all of the first type of target sites are the same, and the orientation of all of the second type of target sites are the same. Step c) comprises introducing the DNA vector into the target cell.

The invention features methods of treatment and diagnosis using NRG-2 polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules, and antibodies. The invention also provides novel NRG-2 polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules.

The present invention encompasses filamin A (FLNA) binding proteins. Specifically, the invention relates to antibodies to FLNA. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. Methods of making and methods of using the antibodies of the invention in methods of diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis of prostate cancer are also provided.