GENERATION OF BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD NEURONS, CARDIAC MYOCYTES, AND HEPATOCYTES USING REG PEPTIDES, PEPTIDOMIMETICS, SMALL MOLECULES AND STIMULATORY ANTIBODIES TO REG RECEPTOR

摘要

Reg gene receptors are found throughout the body, including in the neurons of the brain and spinal cord, liver and heart. Reg proteins are expressed during fetal development for organogenesis and then only upregulated in times of organ injury, such as in the setting of stroke, myocardial infarction or spinal cord injury. Upregulation of Reg proteins following organ injury is a protective mechanism against organ failure and has been shown to result in the formation of new neurons, cardiac myocytes, hepatocytes and in other organs expressing the Reg receptor. Described are the compositions of bioactive Reg peptides, as well as optimization of these peptides (to increase plasma half-life), peptidomimetics, stimulatory antibodies and small molecules that interact with the Reg receptor that are capable of initiating formation of new cells after organ injury.