Compositions having a combination of specific biological components have beenfound to exert a number of useful effects in mammalian cells, includingmodulating TGF-.beta. signaling, apoptosis, and proliferation of mammaliancells, as well as decreasing inflammation in mice. These components can beobtained commercially, or can be prepared from biological tissues such asplacental tissues. Placental amniotic membrane (AM) preparations describedherein include AM pieces, AM extracts, AM jelly, AM stroma, and mixtures ofthese compositions with additional components. The compositions can be used totreat various diseases, such as wound healing, inflammation and angiogenesis-related diseases.
