Compositions and methods for increasing vascularization
View Patent ↗Disclosed are methods of increasing vascularization in a tissue by administering a neublastin polypeptide to a mammal exhibiting impaired or inadequate blood flow in the tissue. The methods can be used to in the treatment or prevention of a disorder characterized by impaired or inadequate blood flow or to increase vascularization in an organ that has been transplanted into a subject.
1. A method of increasing vascularization in a tissue, the method comprising:
selecting a human exhibiting impaired or inadequate blood flow in a tissue; and
administering to the human an amount of a polypeptide effective to increase vascularization in the tissue, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to amino acids 15-113 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the polypeptide, when dimerized, binds to a complex containing GFRalpha3 and RET, and wherein the human has received a transplanted organ and administration of the polypeptide increases vascularization in the transplanted organ.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transplanted organ is a heart.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transplanted organ is dermis.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether increased vascularization has occurred subsequent to administration of the polypeptide.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is administered to the human via systemic administration.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is administered to the human via subcutaneous administration.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein herein the polypeptide is administered to the human via local administration.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence is at least 90% identical to amino acids 15-113 of SEQ ID NO:1.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence is at least 95% identical to amino acids 15-113 of SEQ ID NO:1.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence is at least 98% identical to amino acids 15-113 of SEQ ID NO:1.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises amino acids 15-113 of SEQ ID NO:1, amino acids 15-113 of SEQ ID NO:2, amino acids 15-113 of SEQ ID NO:3, amino acids 15-113 of SEQ ID NO:4, amino acids 15-113 of SEQ ID NO:5, amino acids 15-113 of SEQ ID NO:8, or amino acids 15-113 of SEQ ID NO:9.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises amino acids 10-113 of SEQ ID NO:1.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the human has not been diagnosed with a neurological disorder.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the human has not been diagnosed with an ocular disorder.