Abstract: The invention provides an immunoglobulin molecule which binds KDR with an affinity comparable to human VEGF, and that neutralizes activation of KDR. Immunoglobulin molecules include monovalent single chain antibodies, multivalent single chain antibodies, diabodies, triabodies, antibodies, humanized antibodies and chimerized antibodies. The invention further provides nucleic acid molecules that encode these immunoglobulin molecules. The invention also provides a method of making the immunoglobulin molecules mentioned above. The invention further provides a method of neutralizing the activation of KDR, a method of inhibiting angiogenesis in a mammal and a method of inhibiting tumor growth in a mammal with such immunoglobulin molecules.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a purified population of mammalian endothelial, muscle, or neural stem cells. The invention further provides methods for isolating such populations of cells; methods for using such populations of cells for treating mammals; methods for making vectors for gene therapy; and methods for carrying out gene therapy with such vectors.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a purified population of mammalian endothelial, muscle, or neural stem cells. The invention further provides methods for isolating such populations of cells; methods for using such populations of cells for treating mammals; methods for making vectors for gene therapy; and methods for carrying out gene therapy with such vectors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of isolating mammalian stem cells expressing the VEGF receptor VEGFR-1 and compositions thereof. The present invention is also directed to methods of using such isolated mammalian stem cells expressing VEGFR-1 to treat various conditions, which can involve inducing hematopoiesis, vasculogenesis and/or angiogenesis, myogenesis, and neurogenesis to treat the various condition. Finally, the present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using a molecule that binds and activates or stimulates VEGFR-1, for example, P1GF, to stimulate proliferation and/or differentiation and mobilization, i.e., motogenesis, of stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of inhibiting tumor cells by administering an antagonist which inhibits the VEGF/VEGFR-1 autocrine loop of tumor cells. Additional antagonists can be added to inhibit endothelial paracrine loop by inhibiting other VEGFRs expressed on endothelial cells, particularly VEGFR-2. Examples of antagonists include antibodies and small molecules. A preferred cancer for treatment is breast cancer.

Abstract: Primitive hematopoietic stem cells are closely associated with discrete in vivo microenvironments. These “niches” are thought to provide the molecular signals that mediate stem cell differentiation and self renewal. We have dissected the fetal liver microenvironment into distinct cellular components by establishing an extensive panel of stromal cell lines. One particular cell line maintains repopulating stem cells for prolonged in vitro culture periods. A subtraction cloning strategy has yielded a cDNA which encodes a cell surface glycoprotein with a restricted pattern of expression among stromal cell lines. This molecule, previously identified as dlk/Pref-1, contains EGF-like repeats which are related to those in the Notch/Delta/Serrate family of proteins. We have investigated the potential role of this molecule in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell regulation.

Abstract: The invention provides an immunoglobulin molecule which binds KDR with an affinity comparable to human VEGF, and that neutralizes activation of KDR. Immunoglobulin molecules include monovalent single chain antibodies, multivalent single chain antibodies, diabodies, triabodies, antibodies, humanized antibodies and chimerized antibodies. The invention further provides nucleic acid molecules that encode these immunoglobulin molecules. The invention also provides a method of making the immunoglobulin molecules mentioned above. The invention further provides a method of neutralizing the activation of KDR, a method of inhibiting angiogenesis in a mammal and a method of inhibiting tumor growth in a mammal with such immunoglobulin molecules.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a purified population of mammalian endothelial stem cells. The invention further provides methods for isolating such populations of cells, methods for using such populations of cells for treating mammals in need of neovascularization and for making vectors for gene therapy, and methods for carrying out gene therapy with such vectors.