Methods and compositions for the treatment of motor neuron injury and neuropathy

A method of treating a mammal with symptoms of spinal cord injury, comprising administering to said mammal a morphogen, wherein the morphogen:

• (1) comprises a dimeric protein having an amino acid sequence with:
• (a) at least 70% homology with the C-terminal seven-cysteine skeleton of human OP-1, residues 330-431 of SEQ ID NO;
• 2;
• or,
• (b) greater than 60% amino acid sequence identity with said C-terminal seven-cysteine skeleton of human OP-1;
• and
• (2) stimulates production of an N-CAM or L1 isoform by an NG108-15 cell in vitro;
• whereby motor function is improved in said mammal.

A method of improving motor function in a mammal with symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, comprising administering to the mammal a morphogen, wherein the morphogen:

• (1) comprises a dimeric protein having an amino acid sequence with:
• (a) at least 70% homology with the C-terminal seven-cysteine skeleton of human OP-1, residues 330-431 of SEQ ID NO:
• 2;
• or,
• (b) greater than 60% amino acid sequence identity with said C-terminal seven-cysteine skeleton of human OP-1;
• and
• (2) stimulates production of an N-CAM or L1 isoform by an NG108-15 cell in vitro;
• whereby motor function is improved in the mammal.

A method of improving motor function in a mammal with symptoms of spinal cord injury, comprising administering to the mammal a morphogen, wherein the morphogen:

• (1) comprises a dimeric protein having an amino acid sequence with:
• (a) at least 70% homology with the C-terminal seven-cysteine skeleton of human OP-1, residues 330-431 of SEQ ID NO:
• 2;
• or,
• (b) greater than 60% amino acid sequence identity with said C-terminal seven-cysteine skeleton of human OP-1;
• and
• (2) stimulates production of an N-CAM or L1 isoform by an NG108-15 cell in vitro;
• whereby motor function is improved in the mammal.

A method of repairing damaged neural pathway of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) of a mammal, comprising administering to said mammal a morphogen, wherein the morphogen:

• (1) comprises a dimeric protein having an amino acid sequence with:
• (a) at least 70% homology with the C-terminal seven-cysteine skeleton of human OP-1, residues 330-431 of SEQ ID NO:
• 2;
• or,
• (b) greater than 60% amino acid sequence identity with said C-terminal seven-cysteine skeleton of human OP-1;
• and,
• (2) stimulates production of an N-CAM or L1 isoform by an NG108-15 cell in vitro;
• whereby the damaged neural pathway of the PNS in said mammal are repaired.

A method of improving motor function in a mammal with symptoms of neural pathway damage in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), comprising administering to said mammal a morphogen, wherein the morphogen:

• (1) comprises a dimeric protein having an amino acid sequence with:
• (a) at least 70% homology with the C-terminal seven-cysteine skeleton of human OP-1, residues 330-431 of SEQ ID NO:
• 2;
• or,
• (b) greater than 60% amino acid sequence identity with said C-terminal seven-cysteine skeleton of human OP-1;
• and,
• (2) stimulates production of an N-CAM or L1 isoform by an NG108-15 cell in vitro;
• whereby motor function is improved in said mammal.