Abstract: Materials and methods for reducing cell proliferation or extracellular matrix production in a mammal are disclosed. The methods comprise administering to a mammal a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a zvegf4 antagonist in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle. Exemplary zvegf4 antagonists include anti-zvegf4 antibodies, inhibitory polynucleotides, inhibitors of zvegf4 activation, and mitogenically inactive, receptor-binding variants of zvegf4. The materials and methods are useful in the treatment of, inter alia, fibroproliferative disorders of the kidney, liver, and bone.

Abstract: Polypeptide growth factor ZVEGF3, methods of making it, polynucleotides encoding it, antibodies that bind to it, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptide comprises an amino acid segment that is at least 90% identical to residues 46-163 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 235-345 of SEQ ID NO:2. Multimers of the polypeptide are also disclosed. The polypeptide, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents. The antibodies may be used to inhibit cell growth.

Abstract: Methods for promoting growth of bone, ligament, or cartilage in a mammal are disclosed. The methods comprise administering to said mammal a composition comprising a pharmacologically effective amount of a zvegf3 protein in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle. Also disclosed are methods for promoting proliferation or differentiation of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, chondrocytes, or bone marrow stem cells comprising culturing the cells in an effective amount of a zvegf3 protein.

Abstract: Methods for promoting growth of bone, ligament, or cartilage in a mammal are disclosed. The methods comprise administering to said mammal a composition comprising a pharmacologically effective amount of a zvegf3 protein in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle. Also disclosed are methods for promoting proliferation or differentiation of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, chondrocytes, or bone marrow stem cells comprising culturing the cells in an effective amount of a zvegf3 protein.

Abstract: Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an amino acid segment that is at least 90% identical to residues 46-163 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 235-345 of SEQ ID NO:2. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.

Abstract: Polypeptide fusions, dimeric fusion proteins, and materials and methods for making them are disclosed. One of the polypeptide fusions consists of a non-immunoglobulin polypeptide, a polypeptide linker, a dimerizing domain, and, optionally, a linking polypeptide. Another of the polypeptide fusions consists of a non-immunoglobulin polypeptide, a polypeptide linker, and a second dimerizing domain.

Abstract: Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an amino acid segment that is at least 70% identical to residues 52-179 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.

Abstract: Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an amino acid segment that is at least 70% identical to residues 52-179 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.

Abstract: Proteins consisting of, from amino to carboxyl terminus, a first PDGF-D growth factor domain polypeptide, a linker polypeptide, and a second PDGF-D growth factor domain polypeptide, and materials and methods for making the proteins are disclosed. Each of the first and second PDGF-D growth factor domain polypeptides consists of a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 from amino acid x to amino acid y, wherein x is an integer from 246 to 258, inclusive, and y is an integer from 365–370, inclusive. The linker polypeptide consists of from 11–40 amino acid residues. The proteins can be used to stimulate the production of bone and/or connective tissue in both humans and non-human animals.

Abstract: Materials and methods for reducing cell proliferation or extracellular matrix production in a mammal are disclosed. The methods comprise administering to a mammal a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a zvegf4 antagonist in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle. Exemplary zvegf4 antagonists include anti-zvegf4 antibodies, inhibitory polynucleotides, inhibitors of zvegf4 activation, and mitogenically inactive, receptor-binding variants of zvegf4. The materials and methods are useful in the treatment of, inter alia, fibroproliferative disorders of the kidney, liver, and bone.

Abstract: Materials and methods for reducing TGF-? production and promoting repair of liver damage in a mammal are disclosed. The methods comprise administering to a mammal a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-zvegf3 antibody in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle.

Abstract: Proteins consisting of two PDGF-D polypeptide chains, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and materials and methods for making the proteins are disclosed. Each of the polypeptide chains consists of, from amino terminus to carboxyl terminus, the following operably linked segments: P1-P2-h-CH2-CH3; P1-P2-CH2-CH3; h-CH2-CH3-P2-P1; or CH2-CH3-P2-P1. Within these polypeptide chains, P1 is a first polypeptide segment as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 from amino acid x to amino acid y, wherein x is an integer from 246 to 258, inclusive, and y is an integer from 365–370, inclusive; P2 is a second polypeptide segment consisting of from 4 to 20 amino acid residues; h is an immunoglobulin hinge region or portion thereof; and CH2 and CH3 are CH2 and CH3 domains of an immunoglobulin heavy chain, respectively. Within the protein, the two polypeptide chains are joined by one or more disulfide bonds, each of the chains is optionally glycosylated, and the protein binds to and activates cell-surface PDGF receptors.

Abstract: Proteinase inhibitors comprising a Kunitz domain are disclosed. The Kunitz domain comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the sequence is at least 80% identical to residues 6 through 56 of SEQ ID NO:2. Also disclosed are methods for making the proteinase inhibitors, and expression vectors and cultured cells that are useful within the methods. The proteinase inhibitors may be used as components of cell culture media, in protein purification, and in certain therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Abstract: Antibodies that specifically bind to novel serine protease polypeptides are disclosed. The polypeptides are selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 from residue 1 through residue 373, a polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO:15 from residue 1 through residue 373, and a polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO:18 from residue 1 through residue 364.

Abstract: Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an amino acid segment that is at least 70% identical to residues 52-179 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.

Abstract: A novel proteinase inhibitor and materials and methods for making it are disclosed. The proteinase inhibitor comprises residues 3-425 of SEQ ID NO:2. The proteinase inhibitor may be used as components of cell culture media, in protein purification, and in certain therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Abstract: Materials and Methods for treating fibrosis in a mammal are disclosed. The methods comprise administering to a mammal a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a zvegf3 antagonist in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle. Zvegf3 antagonists include anti-zvegf3 antibodies, mitogenically inactive receptor-binding zvegf3 variant polypeptides, and inhibitory polynucleotides. Within one embodiment of the fibrosis is liver fibrosis.

Abstract: Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an amino acid segment that is at least 90% identical to residues 46-163 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 235-345 of SEQ ID NO:2. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.

Abstract: Transglutaminase polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding them, methods of making them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise residues 1-X of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein X is an integer from 462 to 704, inclusive. The compositions and methods of the invention may be used for a variety of purposes in industry, research, and medicine.

Abstract: Methods for promoting growth of bone, ligament, or cartilage in a mammal are disclosed. The methods comprise administering to said mammal a composition comprising a pharmacologically effective amount of zvegf4 in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle. Also disclosed are methods for promoting proliferation or differentiation of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, chondrocytes, or bone marrow stem cells comprising culturing the cells in an effective amount of zvegf4.