University of Texas System

Orthologic Corp.

John S Bergmann

Darrell H Carney

Roger S Crowther

Janet Stiernberg

Gerald Maxwell Fuller

David N Herndon

Celeste C Finnerty

In one embodiment, an apparatus for forming wounds in cell layers includes a base that includes a guide track, and a sliding member adapted to fit within the guide track, the sliding member including a scratching element holder adapted to secure a scratching element in a position in which it contacts a cell layer, wherein the sliding member is further adapted to slide along the guide track to drag the scratching element through the cell layer.

Apparatuses and methods for forming wounds in cell layers

Disclosed are antibodies and antigen-binding fragments that bind to a complementary peptide having an amino acid sequence that is encoded by the complement of a nucleotide sequence encoding thrombin or a portion thereof. Such antibodies and antigen-binding fragments can be agonists or antagonists of thrombin receptor-mediated events. Also disclosed are methods of using the agonist antibodies and antigen-binding fragments of the invention to activate the non-proteolytically activated thrombin receptor (NPAR) in a subject in need of such treatment. In addition, methods of using the antagonist antibodies and antigen-binding fragments of the invention to inhibit activation of the NPAR in a subject in need of such treatment are disclosed.

Antibodies to complementary peptides of thrombin or portions thereof

Disclosed is a method of stimulating cartilage growth, repair or regeneration at a site in a subject in need of such growth, repair or regeneration. The method comprises the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agonist of the non-proteolytically activated thrombin receptor to the site. Also disclosed is a method of stimulating the proliferation and expansion of chrondrocytes in vitro. The method comprises culturing chrondrocytes in the presence of a stimulating amount of an NPAR agonist.

Stimulation of cartilage growth with agonists of the non-proteolytically activated thrombin receptor

Growing community of inventors

Galveston, TX, United States of America

John S Bergmann