Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing or inhibiting the angiogenic process and promoting vessel growth or stabilization in an organ by modulating the trk receptor pathway. The present invention also relates to a method for treating a pathological disorder in a patient which includes administering a trk receptor ligand or an inhibitor or expression or activity of a trk receptor ligand. The present invention also relates to a method of screening for a modulator of angiogenesis, vessel growth, or vessel stabilization. Another aspect of the present invention is a method of diagnosing or monitoring a pathological disorder in a patient which includes determining the presence or amount of a trk receptor ligand or activation of a trk receptor ligand in a biological sample.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to modulation of the interactions between proNTs and p75NTR/SorCS2 expressed on neuronal cells. Inhibition of such interactions is useful for reducing unwanted synaptic elimination, neurite pruning and/or other neuronal structural collapses, and for treating early stage and mild neurological disorders including mild cognitive impairment.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated protein comprising a pro-domain of a proneurotrophin, methods for producing the protein, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the isolated protein. The invention also provides a nucleic acid molecule which encodes the protein and a vector containing the nucleic acid molecule. The present invention further provides a method for cleaving a proneurotrophin protein to a mature neurotrophin. In addition, the invention relates to methods for inducing apoptosis in a cell of a mammal expressing p75 surface receptors or p75 and trk receptors. The methods include causing the p75 receptor to bind a pharmaceutical composition containing a pro-domain of a proneurotrophin or administering to the mammal an effective amount of a cleavage-resistant proneurotrophin and an inhibitor of trk activation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting cellular uptake of pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF) in a cell expressing neurotrophin p75 receptor in a mammal in need thereof. Such mammals include, for example, those suffering from neuropathological conditions. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of promoting cellular uptake of proNGF in a cell expressing p75NTR receptor in a mammal in need thereof. Such mammals include, for example, those suffering from conditions relating to human and other mammalian hair follicle cycling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides which selectively or preferentially home to areas of a heart. The invention further relates to conjugates of the homing peptides and uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining whether a patient suffering from a condition that is susceptible to treatment with a compound that activates the brain serotonin system is resistant to treatment with the compound. The method comprises observing whether the genome of the patient contains at least one copy of the BDNF allele containing a genetic alteration, and correlating the presence of the allele containing the genetic alteration with patients who are resistant to treatment with the compound. In another embodiment, the method comprises observing whether the patient expresses a BDNF protein containing an amino acid alteration, and correlating the expression of the BDNF protein containing the amino acid alteration with patients who are resistant to treatment with the compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing or inhibiting the angiogenic process and promoting vessel growth or stabilization in an organ by modulating the trk receptor pathway. The present invention also relates to a method for treating a pathological disorder in a patient which includes administering a trk receptor ligand or an inhibitor or expression or activity of a trk receptor ligand. The present invention also relates to a method of screening for a modulator of angiogenesis, vessel growth, or vessel stabilization. Another aspect of the present invention is a method of diagnosing or monitoring a pathological disorder in a patient which includes determining the presence or amount of a trk receptor ligand or activation of a trk receptor ligand in a biological sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing or inhibiting the angiogenic process and promoting vessel growth or stabilization in an organ by modulating the trk receptor pathway. The present invention also relates to a method for treating a pathological disorder in a patient which includes administering a trk receptor ligand or an inhibitor or expression or activity of a trk receptor ligand. The present invention also relates to a method of screening for a modulator of angiogenesis, vessel growth, or vessel stabilization. Another aspect of the present invention is a method of diagnosing or monitoring a pathological disorder in a patient which includes determining the presence or amount of a trk receptor ligand or activation of a trk receptor ligand in a biological sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated protein comprising a pro-domain of a proneurotrophin, methods for producing the protein, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the isolated protein. The invention also provides a nucleic acid molecule which encodes the protein and a vector containing the nucleic acid molecule. The present invention further provides a method for cleaving a proneurotrophin protein to a mature neurotrophin. In addition, the invention relates to methods for inducing apoptosis in a cell of a mammal expressing p75 surface receptors or p75 and trk receptors. The methods include causing the p75 receptor to bind a pharmaceutical composition containing a pro-domain of a proneurotrophin or administering to the mammal an effective amount of a cleavage-resistant proneurotrophin and an inhibitor of trk activation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated protein comprising a pro-domain of a proneurotrophin, methods for producing the protein, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the isolated protein. The invention also provides a nucleic acid molecule which encodes the protein and a vector containing the nucleic acid molecule. The present invention further provides a method for cleaving a proneurotrophin protein to a mature neurotrophin. In addition, the invention relates to methods for inducing apoptosis in a cell of a mammal expressing p75 surface receptors or p75 and trk receptors. The methods include causing the p75 receptor to bind a pharmaceutical composition containing a pro-domain of a proneurotrophin or administering to the mammal an effective amount of a cleavage-resistant proneurotrophin and an inhibitor of trk activation.