| 摘要 |
In one aspect, the invention provides methods of modulating the amount and/or biological activity of thrombospondin 2 or osteopontin in an animal. The methods comprise the step of introducing into the animal an amount of osteopontin, and/or a thrombospondin 2 antagonist, effective to modulate the amount or biological activity of thrombospondin 2 or osteopontin in the animal. In another aspect, the invention provides medical devices comprising (a) a device body; and (b) a surface layer attached to the device body, the surface layer including an amount of an agonist or antagonist of a matricellular protein sufficient to reduce the foreign body response against the medical device, wherein the medical device is adapted to be affixed to, or implanted within, the soft tissue of an animal. |
