The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 27, 2015
Filed:
Jun. 23, 2011
Vincent J. Hearing, Leesburg, VA (US);
Wonseon Choi, Chevy Chase, MD (US);
Ludger Kolbe, Dohren, DE;
Rainer Wolber, Hamburg, DE;
Vincent J. Hearing, Leesburg, VA (US);
Wonseon Choi, Chevy Chase, MD (US);
Ludger Kolbe, Dohren, DE;
Rainer Wolber, Hamburg, DE;
Abstract
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods of using such compositions to modulate pigmentation and proliferation of a melanocyte, such as to prevent or treat skin disorders, including skin cancer or for use for cosmetic purposes. In one example, a method of modulating pigmentation of a melanocyte includes contacting the melanocyte (such as a human melanocyte) with an agent that modulates neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) activity, such as an agent that increases or decreases NRG-1 activity, thereby modulating pigmentation of the melanocyte. In one particular example, the method of increasing melanocyte pigmentation or proliferation can be used to reduce UV skin damage, including that associated with skin cancer. In another example, the method of decreasing melanocyte pigmentation can be used to treat a skin pigmentation disorder associated with undesired increased skin pigmentation.