Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Limited

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.

Cambridge Neuroscience, Inc.

Other

Cambridge Neuroscience Research Inc.

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Cambridge Neuroscience

Mario Su Chen

Michael Derek Waterfield

Ian D Hiles

Andrew David Goodearl

Paul Stroobant

Luisa Minghetti

Mark Marchioni

Disclosed is the characterization and purification of DNA encoding a numerous polypeptides useful for the stimulation of glial cell (particularly, Schwann cell) mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Also disclosed are DNA sequences encoding novel polypeptides which may have use in stimulating glial cell mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Methods for the synthesis, purification and testing of both known and novel polypeptides for their use as both therapeutic and diagnostic aids in the treatment of diseases involving glial cells are also provided. Methods are also provided for the use of these polypeptides for the preparation of antibody probes useful for both diagnostic and therapeutic use in diseases involving glial cells.

Glial mitogenic factors, their preparation and use

The invention involves prophylaxis or treatment of nervous system pathological conditions. This is accomplished by administering secretable glial growth factors, such as the molecule referred to as GGF-2.

Method for prophylaxis or treatment of a nervous system, pathophysiological condition involving a glial growth factor sensitive cell by administration of a glial growth factor

Disclosed is the characterization and purification of DNA encoding polypeptides useful for the stimulation of glial cell mitogenesis. Methods for the synthesis, purification and testing of both known and novel polypeptides for their use as both therapeutic and diagnostic aids in the treatment of diseases involving glial cells are also provided. Methods are also provided for the use of these polypeptides in the prevention or treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Methods for treating multiple sclerosis with GGF-related polypeptides

Disclosed is the characterization and purification of DNA encoding a numerous polypeptides useful for the stimulation of glial cell (particularly, Schwann cell) mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Also disclosed are DNA sequences encoding novel polypeptides which may have use in stimulating glial cell mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Methods for the synthesis, purification and testing of both known and novel polypeptides for their use as both therapeutic and diagnostic aids in the treatment of diseases involving glial cells are also provided. Methods are also provided for the use of these polypeptides for the preparation of antibody probes useful for both diagnostic and therapeutic use in diseases involving glial cells. The present invention is specifically directed to methods of using said polypeptides to induce myelination and to treat multiple sclerosis.

Disclosed are methods for inducing myelination of neural cells by glial cells, The methods involve contacting glial cells with polypeptides comprising epidermal growth factor-like domains encoded by the GGF/p185 erb B2 ligand gene provided as a feature of the invention.

The invention features methods for stimulating glial cell mitogenesis by contacting the glial cells with p185,ligand polypeptides, including glial growth factor (GGF), a GGF splice variant comprised of segments E, B, A, C, and C/D or C/D&prime;, a 35 kD polypeptide factor isolated from rat I-EJ transformed fibroblast cells, 75 kD polypeptide factor isolated from the LKBR-3 human breast cells, 44 kD polypeptide factor isolated from the rat I-EJ transformed fibroblast cells, 45 kD polypeptide factor isolated from MDA-MB 231 human breast cells, 7-14 kD polypeptide factor isolated from the ATL-2 human T-cells, 25 kD polypeptide factor isolated from activated mouse peritoneal macrophages, and 25 kD polypeptide factor isolated from bovine kidney.

Methods of stimulating mitogenesis in glial cells using glial mitogenic factors

Disclosed are methods for treating pathophysiological conditions of the mammalian nervous system. The methods involve administering pharmaceutically effective amounts of recombinant polypeptides comprising epidermal growth factor-like domains encoded by the GGF/p185erbB2 ligand gene.

Methods for treating nervous system pathophysiologies using glial growth factors

The invention is concerned with new glial growth factors, such as the molecule referred to as GGF2. These factors are mitogenic factors for, e.g., Schwann cells.

Glial mitogenic factors

The invention involves the purification of various glial mitogenic factors. In one aspect of the invention, vertebrate brain material is extracted, and the extract is then subjected to chromatographic separation. The glial mitogenic factors which can be obtained include a basic polypeptide with a molecular weight of from about 30 to about 36 kD, by reference to SDS-PAGE, and a second basic polypeptide factor which is from about 55 to about 63 kD as determined by SDS-page.

Process for preparing glial mitogenic factors

Disclosed is the characterization and purification of DNA encoding numerous polypeptides useful for the stimulation of glial cell (particularly, Schwann cell mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Also disclosed are DNA sequences encoding novel polypeptides which may have use in stimulating glial cell mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Methods for the synthesis, purification and testing of both known and novel polypeptides for their use as both therapeutic and diagnostic aids in the treatment of diseases involving glial cells are also provided. Methods are also provided for the use of these polypeptides for the preparation of antibody probes useful for both diagnostic and therapeutic use in diseases involving glial cells. The present invention is specifically directed to a method of using a secretable glial growth factor to induce acetycholine receptor synthesis.

Method of using a secretable glial mitogenic factor to induce

The invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode for part or all of glial growth factor molecules, as well as recombinant vectors and transfected cell lines.

Growing community of inventors

Arlington, MA, United States of America

Mario Su Chen