Neostatins

Abstract

The invention provides fragments of type XVIII collagen termed neostatins, and methods for their use in the treatment of opthalmological disorders associated with angiogenesis.

1 . A method of identifying a candidate therapeutic compound for the treatment of an opthalmological disorder associated with angiogenesis, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a sample comprising one or more of an MMP-7 or MMP-14 polypeptide;    contacting the sample with the test compound; and    evaluating a level of MMP-7 or MMP-14 activity in the sample,    wherein an increase in a level of MMP-7 or MMP-14 activity in the sample indicates that the test compound is a candidate therapeutic compound for the treatment of an opthalmological disorder.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MMP-7 polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:6.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MMP-14 polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:8.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample further comprises collagen XVIII, and the level of MMP-7 or MMP-14 activity in the sample is evaluated by measuring levels of one or both of neostatin-7 or neostatin-14 polypeptide in the sample, and an increase in neostatin-7 or neostatin-14 levels indicates an increase in the level of MMP-7 or MMP-14 activity, respectively.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering the candidate therapeutic compound to an animal model of an opthalmological disorder associated with angiogenesis, and monitoring the animal model for an effect of the candidate therapeutic compound on a parameter of the disorder in the animal, wherein an improvement in the parameter in the animal model indicates that the candidate therapeutic compound is a therapeutic agent for the treatment of the disorder.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the parameter of the disorder is vascularisation.