Method for stimulating or enhancing proliferation of cells by activating the mucin 1 (MUC1) receptor

1. A method for stimulating or enhancing proliferation of a population of cells by activating Mucin 1 (MUC1) receptor on the cells, wherein the activating is carried out by contacting the cells with (i) an agent that dimerizes the MUC1 Growth Factor Receptor (MGFR) portion of MUC1 receptor; (ii) an agent that increases the cleavage of MUC1 receptor to the growth factor receptor form; or (iii) a ligand that activates the MGFR portion of the MUC1 receptor, wherein the cells are non-tumorous cells or immature cells.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cells are non-tumorous cells.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cells are immature cells.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the cells are chosen from the group consisting of stem cells, progenitor cells, endometrial cells, neutrophil precursors and neutrophils.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the MUC1 receptor is a cell surface-attached cleavage product.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the MUC1 cleavage product is MGFR.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the MGFR consists essentially of the PSMGFR having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:10.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein MUC1 receptor is activated by a dimerizing agent of the MUC1 receptor.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the dimerizing agent is bivalent.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the bivalent agent recognizes a portion of the MGFR.

11. The method according to claim 8 wherein the bivalent agent is a synthetic compound.

12. The method according to claim 8 wherein the bivalent agent is a dimeric ligand of MUC1.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the bivalent agent is an antibody.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein agent that increases the cleavage is an enzyme.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the enzyme is TACE/ADAM17 or MMP14.