NOVEL NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE RECEPTORS, INTERACTING COMPOUNDS AND METHODS OF REGULATING PROLIFERATION AND/OR SURVIVAL OF NEURONS

摘要

The present invention provides methods and compositions for regulating proliferation and/or survival of neurons, to treat neuronal death and/or injury, or cancer, and to diagnose neuronal tumors, using compounds such as natriuretic peptides or PHI-related neuropeptides to interact with peptide receptor subtypes on the neurons, and provides a novel receptor on neurons that inhibits proliferation in response to natriuretic and PHI-related neuropeptides, and a novel natriuretic type-C receptor.