Screening and therapeutic methods relating to neurogenesis
View Patent ↗The invention provides methods of identifying compounds that modulate neurogenesis. The methods involve providing a compound that modulates prokineticin receptor signaling; contacting a neural stem or progenitor cell with the compound; and determining the ability of the compound to modulate neurogenesis. The invention also provides methods for modulating neurogenesis. The methods involve contacting a neural stem or progenitor cell with an effective amount of a compound that modulates prokineticin receptor signaling. Such methods are useful for both ex vivo or in vivo therapeutic applications where neural regeneration is desirable.
1. A method for modulating neurogenesis, comprising contacting a neural stem or progenitor cell with an effective amount of a prokineticin receptor (PKR) agonist compound wherein the PKR agonist is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:5-11 and 14-15.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prokineticin agonist is SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:7.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell is contacted ex vivo.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the cell is a mammalian cell.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the cell is a human cell.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neural stem or progenitor cell is contacted in vivo.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the cell is a mammalian cell.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cell is a human cell.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the human cell resides in an individual having a disorder of neural degeneration or damage.