SP35 ANTIBODIES AND USES THEREOF

摘要

Endogenous Sp35 is a negative regulator for neuronal survival, axon regen eration, oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination. Molecules that blo ck endogenous Sp35 function, such anti-Sp35 antibodies can be used as therap eutics for the treatment of neuron and oligodendrocyte dysfunction. The pres ent invention provides antibodies specific for Sp35, and methods of using su ch antibodies as antagonists of endogenous Sp35 function. The invention furt her provides specific hybridoma and phage library-derived monoclonal antibod ies, nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, and vectors and host cells com prising these antibodies. The invention further provides methods of promotin g oligodendrocyte survival and myelination in a vertebrate, comprising admin istering to a vertebrate in need of such treatment an effective amount of an anti-Sp35 antibody.