Fibroblast growth factor 13

Abstract

Disclosed is a human Fibroblast growth factor-13 polypeptide and DNA(RNA) encoding such polypeptide. Also provided is a procedure for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptide for promoting wound healing for example as a result of burns and ulcers, to prevent neuronal damage associated with stroke and due to neuronal disorders and promote neuronal growth, and to prevent skin aging and hair loss, to stimulate angiogenesis, mesodermal induction in early embryos and limb regeneration. Antagonists against such polypeptides and their use as a therapeutic to prevent abnormal cellular proliferation, hyper-vascular diseases and epithelial lens cell proliferation are also disclosed. Diagnostic methods for detecting mutations in the coding sequence and alterations in the concentration of the polypeptides in a sample derived from a host are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide comprising amino acid −21 to amino acid 191 as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide comprising amino acid 1 to amino acid 191 as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2;    (c) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing to and which is at least 70% identical to the polynucleotide of (a) or (b); and    (d) a polynucleotide fragment of the polynucleotide of (a), (b) or (c).    
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein the polynucleotide is DNA.  
     
     
         3 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  comprising from nucleotide 65 to nucleotide 641 as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.  
     
     
         4 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polynucleotide encoding a mature polypeptide encoded by the DNA contained in ATCC Deposit No. 97147;    (b) a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide expressed by the DNA contained in ATCC Deposit No. 97147;    (c) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing to and which is at least 70% identical to the polynucleotide of (a) or (b); and    (d) a polynucleotide fragment of the polynucleotide of (a), (b) or (c).    
     
     
         5 . A vector containing the DNA of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         6 . A host cell genetically engineered with the vector of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         7 . A process for producing a polypeptide comprising: expressing from the host cell of  claim 6  the polypeptide encoded by said DNA.  
     
     
         8 . A process for producing cells capable of expressing a polypeptide comprising genetically engineering cells with the vector of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         9 . A polypeptide comprising a member selected from the group consisting of (i) a polypeptide having the deduced amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 and fragments, analogs and derivatives thereof; and (ii) a polypeptide encoded by the cDNA of ATCC Deposit No. 97147 and fragments, analogs and derivatives of said polypeptide.  
     
     
         10 . An antibody against the polypeptide of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         11 . A compound which inhibits the biological actions of the polypeptide of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         12 . An agonist mimetic to the polypeptide of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         13 . A method for the treatment of a patient having need of an FGF-13 polypeptide comprising: administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         14 . A method for the treatment of a patient having need to inhibit an FGF-13 polypeptide comprising: administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said therapeutically effective amount of said polypeptide is administered by providing to the patient DNA encoding said polypeptide and expressing said polypeptide in vivo.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said compound is a polypeptide and a therapeutically effective amount of the compound is administered by providing to the patient DNA encoding said antagonist and expressing said antagonist in vivo.  
     
     
         17 . A process for identifying compounds active as agonists to the polypeptide of  claim 9  comprising: 
 (a) combining a compound to be screened and a reaction mixture containing cells under conditions where the cells are normally stimulated by said polypeptide, said reaction mixture containing a label incorporated into the cells as they proliferate; and  
 (b) determining the extent of proliferation of the cells to identify if the compound is an effective agonist.  
 
     
     
         18 . A process for identifying compounds active as antagonists to the polypeptide of  claim 9  comprising: 
 (a) combining a compound to be screened, the polypeptide and a reaction mixture containing cells under conditions where the cells are normally stimulated by said polypeptide, said reaction mixture containing a label incorporated into the cells as they proliferate; and  
 (b) determining the extent of proliferation of the cells to identify if the compound is an effective antagonist.  
 
     
     
         19 . A process for diagnosing a disease or a susceptibility to a disease related to an under-expression of the polypeptide of  claim 9  comprising: 
 determining a mutation in the nucleic acid sequence encoding said polypeptide.  
 
     
     
         20 . A diagnostic process comprising: 
 analyzing for the presence of the polypeptide of  claim 9  in a sample derived from a host.