Use Of SCO-Spondin Peptides For Inhibiting Or Preventing Neuronal Apoptosis Mediated By Cell Death Receptor Ligands

A method for reducing the neuronal apoptosis mediated by at least one cell death receptor ligand comprising administering during neuronal degeneration in a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of Trp Ser Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys Ser Xaa Xaa Cys Gly (SEQ ID NO:

• 17), thereby reducing neuronal apoptosis.

A method for reducing the neuronal apoptosis associated with a disease selected from the group consisting of neurodegenerative disorders, cerebral ischemia, neuronal traumas, neuronal inflammatory diseases, and viral neurodegenerations, comprising administering in a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a nucleic acid construct encoding a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:

• 17.

A method for reducing cell death mediated by TRAIL or FasL in a disease selected from the group consisting of neurodegenerative disorders, cerebral ischemia, neuronal traumas, neuronal inflammatory diseases and viral neurodegenerations, comprising administering in a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

• 17.

A method for reducing neuronal apoptosis mediated by at least one cell death receptor ligand comprising administering in a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

• 17, thereby reducing neuronal apoptosis, provided that the polypeptide is not administered where cell degeneration has already occurred.

A method for reducing neuronal apoptosis mediated by at least one cell death receptor ligand comprising administering during about 7 days in a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

• 17, thereby reducing neuronal apoptosis.