North Carolina State University

Biomarck Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Linda D Martin

Kenneth B Adler

Yuehua Li

Indu Parikh

Shuji Takashi

Mariangela Macchione

Nancy J Akley

Shaun A McKane

The present invention includes methods of modulating cellular secretory processes. More specifically the present invention relates to modulating or reducing the release of inflammatory mediators from inflammatory cells by inhibiting the mechanism associated with the release of inflammatory mediators from the vesicles or granules in the inflammatory cells in a subject with a chronic inflammatory disease. In this regard, the present invention discloses an intracellular signaling mechanism that illustrates several novel intracellular targets for pharmacological intervention in disorders involving secretion of inflammatory mediators from vesicles in inflammatory cells. MANS peptide and active fragments thereof are useful in such methods.

Methods for regulating inflammatory mediators and peptides for useful therein

Methods and compounds for decreasing MARCKS-related inflammation and MARCKS-related mucus hypersecretion or decreasing MARCKS-related inflammation in a subject by the administration of a N-terminal myristoylated protein fragment of the N-terminal region of MARCKS protein or a peptide fragment thereof are disclosed.

Methods of reducing inflammation and mucus hypersecretion

Methods and compounds for increasing or decreasing mucus secretion in subjects, and particularly mucus secretion in the airways, are described. Methods of screening compounds for the ability to increase or decrease mucus secretion are also described.

Methods and compositions for altering mucus secretion

The present invention includes methods of modulating cellular secretory processes. More specifically the present invention relates to modulating or reducing the release of inflammatory mediators from inflammatory cells by inhibiting the mechanism associated with the release of inflammatory mediators from the vesicles or granules in the inflammatory cells. In this regard, the present invention discloses an intracellular signaling mechanism that illustrates several novel intracellular targets for pharmacological intervention in disorders involving secretion of inflammatory mediators from vesicles in inflammatory cells. MANS peptide and active fragments thereof are useful in such methods.

Methods for regulating inflammatory mediators and peptides useful therein

Method and compositions for altering mucus secretion

Cultured mouse tracheal epithelial are grown in an air/liquid interface culture that allows them to develop differentiated characteristics (i.e., to develop into mucus cells or ciliated cells). This invention may be used for the growth of cells isolated from knockout and transgenic mice. The primary culture cells of the culture may be ciliated or non-ciliated differentiated cells.

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Apex, NC, United States of America

Linda D Martin