[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20578-20579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7849]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. 
Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance 
with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results 
of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent 
applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage 
for companies and may also be available for licensing.

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent 
applications listed below may be obtained by writing to the indicated 
licensing contact at the Office of Technology Transfer, National 
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852-3804; telephone: (301) 496-7057; fax: (301) 402-0220. A 
signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive 
copies of the patent applications.

Triptolide To Induce Immunotolerance

Xin Chen et al. (NCI).
U.S. Provisional Application 60/638,640 filed 22 Dec 2004 (DHHS 
Reference No. E-358-2004/0-US-01).
Licensing Contact: Fatima Sayyid; (301) 435-4521; [email protected].
    Dendritic cells represent a heterogeneous population of antigen-
presenting cells that initiate primary immune responses by activating 
naive T cells and subsequently the effector cells of the adaptive 
immune system. Accordingly, dendritic cells play an

[[Page 20579]]

essential role in such conditions as autoimmune diseases, graft 
rejection, human immunodeficiency virus infection and the generation of 
T cell-dependent antibodies. The Chinese herb Tripterygium Wilfordii 
Hook F (TWHF) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the 
treatment of autoimmune diseases. A major active component isolated 
from TWHF is triptolide and it suppresses T lymphocyte activation.
    The present invention relates to compositions and methods for 
inhibiting the activation of dendritic cells. The methods are useful 
for therapies related to conditions mediated by the activation of 
dendritic cells with an effective amount of a composition comprising 
triptolide or analog or derivative thereof, thereby inhibiting 
activation of dendritic cells.
    In addition to licensing, the technology is available for further 
development through collaborative research opportunities with the 
inventors.

Wild-Type and DNA Polymerase Beta Null Mouse Embryotic Fibroblast Cell 
Lines Harboring a lambda-LIZ Transgene

Robert W. Sobol, Jr., Samuel H. Wilson (NIEHS).
DHHS Reference No. E-049-2000/0--Research Tool.
Licensing Contact: Marlene Shinn-Astor; (301) 435-4426; 
[email protected].
    Of great utility in toxicology and DNA repair research are knockout 
mice with cell lines enabling one to evaluate generations of gene 
mutations as a direct function of base excision repair. Of particular 
importance are lambda-LIZ transgenes. Likewise, wild-type and beta-pol 
null cell lines are equally important. While there exist cell lines 
carrying the lambda-LIZ transgene, only wild-type cells are currently 
available. And while wild-type and beta-pol null cell lines exist, none 
carry the lambda-LIZ transgene.
    The present cell line incorporates both of these beneficial 
properties. These cell lines were created by crossing a transgenic 
mouse with multiple copies of the lambda-LIZ transgene with a mouse 
with but a single copy of the DNA polymerase beta. Rebreeding offspring 
produced cells of both wild type and beta-pol null genotype. The 
utility of these cells stem from the deficiency in base excision repair 
as a result of the null mutation in the DNA polymerase beta gene.
    Also available for licensing are cell lines created using: Ung KO 
mice + lambda-LIZ transgene; Aag KO mice + lambda-LIZ transgene; PMS-2 
KO mice + lambda-LIZ transgene; Pol-beta/Aag double KO mice + lambda-
LIZ transgene; Pol-beta/PMS-2 double KO mice + lambda-LIZ transgene; 
Aag/PMS-2 double KO mice + lambda-LIZ transgene.

    Dated: April 11, 2005.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 05-7849 Filed 4-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P