Abstract: The present invention isolates and characterizes the exc-4 gene of C. elegans, and identifies exc-4 as an orthologue of the human CLIC family of chloride intracellular channels. Accordingly, a nucleic acid having the sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1 is disclosed, as well as recombinant vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1. Further, a number of screening methods are disclosed to identify putative agents that inhibit vertebrate, and preferably human, CLICs using C. elegans and exc-4 inhibition as a loss-of-function model for CLIC activity. Also disclosed is a method of determining whether a specific member of the CLIC gene family is involved in tubulogenesis, where the rescue of a C. elegans exc-4 excretory cell phenotype via expression of a transgenic CLIC gene of interest indicates that the CLIC gene of interest is involved in tubulogenesis. Finally, a method is disclosed of identifying putative vertebrate, and preferably human, CLIC inhibitors using transgenic C.

Abstract: Wnt-1-Induced Secreted Proteins (WISPs) are provided, whose genes are induced at least by Wnt-1. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides, as well as vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides, and methods for producing the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing a synergistic amount of at least one bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and a synergistic amount of at least one pyrrolidone optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as a biodegradable polymer. The present invention further relates to methods of treating orthopaedic and dental, including periodontal, diseases by simultaneously administering a synergistic amount of at least one bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and a synergistic amount of at least one pyrrolidone optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to patients in need of such treatment.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of selectively producing neural cells, including neurons or glial cells, in vitro or in vivo. Also provided are methods of treating or ameliorating neurodegenerative disease or medical conditions by producing neural cells. Thus, a combination of factors is used to achieve two steps: increasing the number of neural stem cells and instructing the neural stem cells to selectively become neurons or glial cells.

Abstract: A novel member of the heregulin superfamily has been identified which is designated “?-HRG”. This molecule, secreted by human breast cancer MDA-MB-175 cells, leads to the formation of a constitutive active receptor complex and stimulates the growth of these cells in an autocrine manner. ?-HRG polypeptide and nucleic acid are disclosed, together with various uses therefor (e.g. use of ?-HRG nucleic acid for the recombinant production of ?-HRG). ?-HRG antagonists (e.g. neutralizing antibodies and antisense nucleic acid molecules) as well as uses therefor are also described.