Genentech, Inc.

Genetech, Inc.

Mary A Hynes

Arnon Rosenthal

Robert D Klein

Weilan Ye

NTNR&#x3b1;, NTNR&#x3b1; extracellular domain (ECD), NTNR&#x3b1; variants, chimeric NTNR&#x3b1; (e.g., NTNR&#x3b1; immunoadhesion), and antibodies which bind thereto (including agonist and neutralizing antibodies) are disclosed. Various uses for these molecules are described, including methods to modulate cell activity and survival by response to NTNR&#x3b1;-ligands, for example NTN, by providing NTNR&#x3b1; to the cell.

Anti-neurturin receptor-A antibody compositions comprising cytokines or neurotrophic factors

NTNR&agr;, NTNR&agr; extracellular domain (ECD), NTNR&agr; variants, chimeric NTNR&agr; (e.g., NTNR&agr; immunoadhesion), and antibodies which bind thereto (including agonist and neutralizing antibodies) are disclosed. Various uses for these molecules are described, including methods to modulate cell activity and survival by response to NTNR&agr;-ligands, for example NTN, by providing NTNR&agr; to the cell.

Neurturin receptor

NTNR&agr;, NTNR&agr; extracellular domain (ECD), NTNR&agr; variants, chimeric NTNR&agr; (e.g., NTNR&agr; immunoadhesin), and antibodies which bind thereto (including agonist and neutralizing antibodies) are disclosed. Various uses for these molecules are described, including methods to modulate cell activity and survival by response to NTNR&agr;-ligands, for example NTN, by providing NTNR&agr; to the cell.

The present invention relates to neuronal formation and methods of treating diseases characterized by abnormalities in the activity of dopaminergic (DA) and serotonergic (5HT) neurons. In particular, the invention relates to a method of forming serotonergic neurons in vitro by contacting neuroprogenitor cells to an effective amount of native sequence, variants and functional fragments of FGF-4, FGF-8 and Shh. Additionally, disclosed is a method for forming dopaminergic neurons by contacting neuroprogenitor cells to an effective amount of FGF-8 and Shh. Further described are compositions, cell culture compositions and medical devices which contain sufficient amount of FGF-8, Shh or FGF-8, Shh and FGF-4 to stimulate differentiation into dopaminergic or serotonergic neurons, respectively. Further described are methods of using serotoneurgic neurons to treat disorders relating to food intake, hormone secretion, stress response, pain and immune function, sexual activity, cardiovascular function and temperature regulation, in particular, depression, proclivity to suicide, violent aggressive behavior, obsessive-compulsive behavior and anorexia/bulimia and schizophrenia. Further described are methods of using dopaminergic neurons to treat disorders relating postural reflexes, movement and reward-associated behaviors, specifically, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and drug addiction. Further described is the coadministration of a neuronal survival factor, for example, NGF, CNTF, BDNF, NT-3, NT-4, aFGF, IL-1&bgr;, TNF&agr;, IGF-1, IGF-2, TGF-&bgr;, TGF-&bgr;1 or skeletal muscle extract.

Method of dopaminergic and serotonergic neuron formation from neuroprogenitor cells

NTNR.alpha., NTNR.alpha. extracellular domain (ECD), NTNR.alpha. variants, chimeric NTNR.alpha. (e.g., NTNR.alpha. immunoadhesin), and antibodies which bind thereto (including agonist and neutralizing antibodies) are disclosed. Various uses for these molecules are described, including methods to modulate cell activity and survival by response to NTNR.alpha.-ligands, for example NTN, by providing NTNR.alpha. to the cell.

Growing community of inventors

San Mateo, CA, United States of America

Mary A Hynes