Gastrointestinal proliferative factor and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising gastrointestinal proliferative factor (GIPF) polynucleotides and polypeptides. The invention further relates to the therapeutic use of GIPF to prevent or treat conditions or disorders associated with the degeneration of the epithelial mucosa.

1 . A method of stimulating epithelial cell proliferation in a mammalian subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a polypeptide with epithelial cell proliferation stimulating activity, wherein said polypeptide comprises (i) an amino acid sequence with at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, or (ii) a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the polypeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises stimulating epithelial cell proliferation in the oral or gastrointestinal tract. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method comprises stimulating epithelial cell proliferation in the esophagus. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method comprises stimulating epithelial cell proliferation in the small intestine. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method comprises stimulating epithelial cell proliferation in the large intestine. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method comprises stimulating epithelial cell proliferation in the stomach. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method comprises stimulating epithelial cell proliferation in the oral cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the subject has undergone or will undergo radiation therapy or chemotherapy. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian subject is a human. 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating a gastrointestinal disorder or oral mucosal disorder in a mammalian subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a polypeptide with epithelial cell proliferation stimulating activity, wherein said polypeptide comprises (i) an amino acid sequence with at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, or (ii) a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the polypeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the disorder is mucositis, inflammatory bowel disease, or short bowel syndrome.