COMPLEXES OF APOLIPOPROTEIN E AND CILIARY NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR (CNTF) AND METHODS OF USE

摘要

Provided herein are compositions comprising complexes of apolipoprotein E and ciliary neurotrophic factor. The apolipoprotein E can be any isoform, but is preferably apolipoprotein E3. Also preferred are covalent complexes of apolipoprotein E and ciliary neurotrophic factor, more preferably those formed by intermolecular disulfide bonds between cysteine residues. Further provided are methods of enhancing the survival of neural cells by administering a composition comprising a complex of apolipoprotein E and ciliary neurotrophic factor. The claimed methods can be carried out both in vitro and in vivo.