Progenitor, Inc.

Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Interneuron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Joseph Cioffi

H Ralph Snodgrass

Thomas Joel Zupancic

Alan Wayne Shafer

The present invention relates to a variant from of the receptor for the obese gene product. In particular, the invention relates to methods of detecting this receptor variant in cells and tissues of obese individuals. In addition, it relates to methods of inhibiting or down regulating expression of this variant in cells to augment their responsiveness to weight regulation by leptin as well as methods of using compounds to directly activate signal transduction pathways associated with this ligand-receptor system. In addition, the invention relates to identifying compounds capable of supplementing biological activity of leptin on cells expressing a leptin receptor variant.

Methods for identifying compounds capable of supplementing the biological activity of leptin

The present invention relates to methods for using various forms of a novel receptor expressed by hematopoietic and endothelial cells. An additional variant form of this receptor has been detected in brain cells and shown to bind to the obese gene product, leptin. Therefore, leptin may be used to stimulate the growth and development of receptor-positive hematopoietic and endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. In addition, this receptor is selectively expressed in hematopoietic progenitor cells with long-term repopulating potential. Thus, agents that specifically bind to this receptor may be used to identify and isolate progenitor cells for a variety of clinical applications.

Methods for using the obese product to stimulate hematopoietic development

The present invention relates to a novel member of the hematopoietin receptor family, herein referred to as Hu-B1.219. In particular, the invention relates to nucleotide sequences and expression vectors encoding Hu-B1.219 gene product. Genetically engineered host cells that express the Hu-B1.219 coding sequence may be used to evaluate and screen for ligands or drugs involved in Hu-B1.219 interaction and regulation. Since Hu-B1.219 expression has been detected in certain human fetal tissues and cancer cells, molecular probes designed from its nucleotide sequence may be useful for prenatal testing and cancer diagnosis.

Methods of screening for ligands of human hemetopoietin receptor HU-B1.219

The present invention relates to a variant form of the receptor for the obese gene product. In particular, the invention relates to methods of detecting this receptor variant in cells and tissues of obese individuals. In addition, it relates to methods of inhibiting or down-regulating expression of this variant in cells to augment their responsiveness to weight regulation by leptin as well as methods of using compounds to directly activate signal transduction pathways associated with this ligand-receptor system.

Detection of a leptin receptor variant and methods for regulating obesity

Methods for using the obese gene and its gene product to stimulate hematopoietic development

Antibodies specific for Hu-B1.219, a novel hematopoietin receptor

The present invention relates to variant forms of the receptor for the obese gene product. In particular, the invention relates to methods of detecting receptor variants in the reproductive organs for the diagnosis of the cause of infertility. In addition, it relates to methods of inhibiting or down-regulating expression of defective variants in cells to augment their responsiveness to regulation by leptin as well as methods of using compounds to directly activate signal transduction pathways associated with this ligand-receptor system to improve fertility.

Detection of the leptin receptor in reproductive organs and methods for

Hu-B1.219, a novel human hematopoietin receptor

Detection of a leptin receptor variant

The present invention relates to a novel member of the hematopoietin receptor family; herein referred to as Hu-B1.219. In particular, the invention relates to nucleotide sequences and expression vectors encoding Hu-B1.219 gene product Genetically engineered host cells that express the Hu-B1.219 coding sequence may be used to evaluate and screen for ligands or drugs involved in Hu-B1.219 interaction and regulation. Since Hu-B1.219 expression has been detected in certain human fetal tissues and cancer cells, molecular probes designed from its nucleotide sequence may be useful for prenatal testing and cancer diagnosis.

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New Albany, OH, United States of America

Joseph Cioffi