Methods and Compositions for Inhibiting Cell Death or Enhacing Cell Proliferation

摘要

The present invention provides compositions and methods that enhance cell survival. Such compositions feature chimeric polypeptides that include at least a GM-CSF receptor ligand and an anti-apoptotic moiety (e.g., a Bcl-2 protein family member). In one embodiment, the chimeric polypeptide is a GM-CSF-Bcl-xL chimeric polypeptide. The invention further includes methods of using chimeric polypeptides to enhance cell survival or inhibit cell death in a cell at risk of cell death.