NEURON REGULATORY FACTOR FOR PROMOTING NEURON SURVIVAL

摘要

A neuron regulatory factor (NRF), derived from cells of the central nervous system, is provided. NRF comprises a large polypeptide or complex of polypeptides that is antigenically distinct from several other known neurotrophic or neuron regulatory factors, and is capable of promoting survival and neurite outgrowth of cultured neurons in vitro, and preventing neuron degeneration and promoting neuron survival in vivo. NRF exerts a neurotrophic effect in a concentration-dependent manner on a variety of distinct neuron populations, and is administered as a pharmaceutical preparation to patients suffering from neuron damage or neurodegenerative disease in an amount effective to facilitate survival and recovery of damaged neurons.