Methods for treating congestive heart failure

1. A method for treating congestive heart failure in a mammal, said method comprising administering a polypeptide comprising an epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain to said mammal, wherein said EGF-like domain is encoded by a neuregulin NRG-2 gene, wherein said polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and said administering is in an amount effective to treat congestive heart failure in said mammal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a human.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said congestive heart failure results from hypertension; ischemic heart disease; exposure to a cardiotoxic compound; myocarditis; thyroid disease; viral infection; gingivitis; drug abuse; alcohol abuse; periocarditis; atherosclerosis; vascular disease; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; acute myocardial infarction; left ventricular systolic dysfunction; coronary bypass surgery; starvation; an eating disorder; or a genetic defect.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said mammal has undergone a myocardial infarction.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein said cardiotoxic compound is an anthracycline, alcohol, or cocaine.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said anthracyline is doxorubicin, or daunomycin.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein said cardiotoxic compound is an anti-ErbB2 or anti-HER2 antibody.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein said polypeptide is administered prior to, during, or after exposure to said cardiotoxic compound.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered after the diagnosis of congestive heart failure in said mammal.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered to a mammal that has undergone compensatory cardiac hypertrophy.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration of said polypeptide maintains left ventricular hypertrophy.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method decreases progression of myocardial thinning.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration of said polypeptide inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

14. A method for treating congestive heart failure in a mammal, said method comprising:

administering a polypeptide comprising an epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain to said mammal, wherein said epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain consists essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and said administering is in an amount effective to treat heart failure in said mammal.

15. A method for treating congestive heart failure in a mammal, said method comprising:

administering a polypeptide comprising an epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain to said mammal, wherein said epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain comprises the EGF-like domain of SEQ ID NO: 11 and said administering is in an amount effective to treat congestive heart failure in said mammal.