Abstract: Methods are provided for the treatment of demyelinating disease in the central or peripheral nervous system. Myelination is enhanced by administration of agents that are agonists of the p75NTR receptor; and/or that inhibit a Trk receptor, including TrkC receptor. Methods of screening for pharmaceutically active compounds that enhance myelination are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes a a peripheral myelin protein, PMP-22, which is present predominantly in the peripheral nervous system and purified nucleic acids which encode the protein. Also included are oligonucleotide probes and primers derived from such sequences, and methods for the use of such sequences, probes and primers in detecting peripheral neuropathies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chimeric neurotrophic factors which comprise at least a portion of a naturally occurring cellular factor and a portion of at least one other molecule such that the resulting chimeric molecule has neurotrophic activity. It is based, in part, on the discovery that chimeric molecules comprising portions of both NGF and BDNF are likely to possess neurotrotrophic activity, and in some cases exhibit a spectrum of activity larger than that of either parent molecule. It is further based on the discovery that chimeric molecules comprising neurotrophic factor sequences as well as additional peptide sequences may retain neurotrophic activity, and in some cases may exhibit a more potent activity than the parent factor. The chimeric neurotrophic factor molecules of the invention provide a number of advantages relative to naturally occurring neurotrophic factors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chimeric neurotrophic factors which comprise at least a portion of a naturally occurring cellular factor and a portion of at least one other molecule such that the resulting chimeric molecule has neurotrophic activity. It is based, in part, on the discovery that chimeric molecules comprising portions of both NGF and BDNF are likely to possess neurotrotrophic activity, and in some cases exhibit a spectrum of activity larger than that of either parent molecule. It is further based on the discovery that chimeric molecules comprising neurotrophic factor sequences as well as additional peptide sequences may retain neurotrophic activity, and in some cases may exhibit a more potent activity than the parent factor. The chimeric neurotrophic factor molecules of the invention provide a number of advantages relative to naturally occurring neurotrophic factors.