Methods for increasing vascular density and maintaining viability of microvascular endothelial cells using trk receptor ligands

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A method of increasing capillary density at a selected site in a subject, said method comprising:
selecting a subject in need of increased vascular density in a site selected from the group consisting of the eye, the kidney, and the skin, and administering to the site of the subject a trk receptor ligand in an amount effective to increase capillary density at the site, said trk receptor ligand being selected from the group consisting of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, NT-3, and NT-4.