Neuroprotective properties of gdf-15, a novel member of the tgf-beta superfamily

摘要

The present invention relates to a transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-like protein which is derived from neurons and glial cells, and which has a neurotrophic effect on dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons, to nucleic acids coding for the protein, to a vector containing the nucleic acids, to host organisms containing the nucleic acids or the vector, to antibodies directed against the protein, to methods for the production of the nucleic acids, the vector or the protein, to a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders in mammals and to a diagnostic kit for the detection of said disorders.