AGONIST ANTIBODIES AGAINST THE FLK2/FLT3 RECEPTOR AND USES THEREOF

摘要

Agonist antibodies are disclosed which bind to the extracellular domain of the flk2/flt3 receptor and thereby activate the intracellular kinase domain thereof. The labeled antibodies are useful as diagnostics for detecting the presence of the flk2/flt3 receptor in primitive hematopoietic cells for example. The antibodies are able to cause primitive hematopoietic cells to proliferate and or differentiate and thereby enhance repopulation of mature blood cell lineages in a mammal which has undergone chemo- or radiation therapy or bone marrow transplantation. The antibodies are further useful for treating mammals which have suffered a decrease in blood cells as a consequence of disease or a homorrhage, for example.