The University of Queensland

Howard Florey Institute

Trevor Kilpatrick

Manuel Baca

Perry Francis Bartlett

Elizabeth Jane Coulson

Katrina Fieldew

Cheema Surindar

Victoria Mary Perreau

Michele D Binder

Judith Field

Methods, compositions and kits based on TAM receptors, or TAM receptor ligands or agonists are for detection of neuropathological diseases or determination of their progression. The neural diseases include multiple sclerosis or other inflammatory neural disorders that are characterized by demyelination, oligodendrocyte cytotoxicity and microglial activation. These methods include screening cells of a subject where identification of an elevation of expression of a TAM receptor or a change in expression of a TAM receptor ligand indicates the presence of the disease presence or progression. In addition, subjects with such neuropathological diseases can be treated by administering TAM receptor ligands (such as GAS 6 or Protein S) or by administering agonists such as antibodies specific for the TAM receptors; Axl, Mer or Tyro3.

TAM receptors and TAM receptor ligands in detection and modulation of neuropathological disease

The present invention relates generally to a method for modulating cell survival. Modulation of cell survival includes inducing, enhancing or otherwise promoting cell survival such as the survival of neural cells as well as facilitating cell death such as the death of targeted cancer cells. The modulation of cell survival is mediated by a region identified on the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75) required for death signalling. The present invention further provides genetic molecules which encode the death signalling region of p75which are useful in antagonising death signal function as well as promoting cell death when expressed in targeted cells. The present invention also contemplates recombinant peptides, polypeptides and proteins as well as chemical equivalents, derivatives and homologues thereof which comprise the death signalling portion of p75. Particularly useful molecules of the present invention comprise peptides corresponding to soluble forms of the death signalling portion of p75. These molecules antagonise p75-mediated cell death.

Method of modulating cell survival and reagents useful for same

The present invention relates generally to a method for modulating cell survival. Modulation of cell survival includes inducing, enhancing or otherwise promoting cell survival such as the survival of neural cells as well as facilitating cell death such as the death of targeted cancer cells. The modulation of cell survival is mediated by a region identified on the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75) required for death signalling. The present invention further provides genetic molecules which encode the death signalling region of p75which are useful in antagonising death signal function as well as promoting cell death when expressed in targeted cells. The present invention also contemplates recombinant peptides, polypeptides and proteins s well as chemical equivalents, derivatives and homologues thereof which comprise the death signalling portion of p75. Particularly useful molecules of the present invention comprise peptides corresponding to soluble forms of the death signalling portion of p75. These molecules antagonise p75-mediated cell death.

Growing community of inventors

Parkville, Australia

Trevor Kilpatrick