A neuropilin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) complex and uses thereof in hibitng bioactiviy of growth factors in tumor cells

摘要

An isolated ligand-receptor complex is described wherein the ligand comprises a polypeptide that binds to NP-1 receptor and has at least 95% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence encoded by exon 6B of VEGF-B167 and the receptor comprises a polypeptide that has at least 95% sequence identity with the extracellular domain of NP-1 and binds to VEGF-B167 or VEGF-C or wherein the ligand is selected from VEGF-B167, processed VEGF-B167, VEGF-C and VEGF-D, and the receptor comprises a polypeptide that binds to VEGF-B167, processed VEGF-B167 or VEGF-C and has at least 95% sequence identity to the extracellular domain of NP-1. Polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence encoded by exon 6B of VEGF-B167 can be used in the manufacture of a medicament for inhibiting bioactivity of a growth factor selected from to VEGF-B167, processed VEGF-B167, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. Uses and methods for modulating the responsiveness of cells to collapsing/semaphoring glycoproteins and for inhibitng growth or proliferation of tumor cells, and antibodies and vectors are also described.