Sangstat Medical Corporation

Sangstate Medical Corporation

Alexander R Lussow

Roland Buelow

Philippe J Pouletty

A pharmaceutical formulation of hyaluronic acid is administered to a patient suffering from undesirable T cellactivity. The hyaluronic acid inhibits T cell activity at doses that are well-tolerated by the recipient. Conditions suitable for treatment include graft vs. host disease, graft rejection and certain autoimmune diseases having a T cell component.

Use of hyaluronic acid as an immunosuppressant

Compounds and libraries are labeled with a galactosyl epitope and then screened in accordance with an assay involving cells having a characteristic of interest. Conveniently, the screening may embody target cells, where the compounds are brought in contact with the cells. Each of the compounds carries with it the information of its identity or method of synthesis. After washing away non-specifically bound compounds, blood may be applied to the cells, whereby antibody binding to the galactosyl epitope initiates the complement cascade. Plaques are identified and the compound associated with the plaque identified. The formation of the plaque demonstrates that the compound has specific affinity for the target cell, binding of the compound to the cell does not interfere with binding of the antibody, and that the complex is capable of cytotoxic activity by means of the complement cascade.

Anti .alpha.-gal screening technique

Compounds and libraries are labeled with a galactosyl epitope amd then screened in accordance with an assay involving cells having a characteristic of interest. Conveniently, the screening may embody target cells, where the compounds are brought in contact with the cells. Each of the compounds carries with it the information of its identity or method of synthesis. After washing away non-specifically bound compounds, blood may be applied to the cells, whereby antibody binding to the galactosyl epitope initiates the complement cascade. Plaques are identified and the compound associated with the plaque identified. The formation of the plaque demonstates that the compound has specific affinity for the target cell, binding of the compound to the cell does not interfere with binding of the antibody, and that the complex is capable of cytotoxic activity by means of the complement cascade.

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Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Alexander R Lussow