Use of heregulin as a growth factor
AssigneeGenentech, Inc.
InventorsMark X. Sliwkowski, Jeffrey A. Kern
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ligands which bind to the HER2, HER3 and/or HER4 receptors are useful as normal epithelial cell growth factors.
Claims20
A method of inducing epithelial cell growth and/or proliferation, comprising contacting a normal epithelial cell which expresses HER2, HER3 and/or HER4 receptors with an effective amount of an isolated ligand which activates HER2, HER3, HER4 receptors or a combination thereof.
A method of increasing lung surfactant protein A, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of an isolated HER2, HER3 and/or HER4 activating ligand.
A method of treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of an isolated HER2, HER3 and/or HER4 activating ligand.
A method of treating respiratory distress or emphysema, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of an isolated HER2, HER3 and/or HER4 activating ligand.
A method, comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining a normal epithelial cell sample from a mammal;
- (b) contacting the sample with a ligand which activates HER2, HER3, HER4 or a combination thereof to induce growth and/or proliferation of epithelial cells in the sample and to obtain an expanded sample;
- and
- (c) re-introducing the expanded sample into the mammal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.