Patent ID: 6790606
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: A01K,A61K,C07K,C12N,G01N

Abstract:
A method for screening a modulator of cell migration comprising the steps of:(a) forming a gel matrix comprising Cyr61 and a suspected modulator of cell migration; (b) preparing a control gel matrix comprising Cyr61; (c) seeding fibroblast cells presenting an &agr;6&bgr;1 integrin onto the gel matrix of step (a) and the control gel matrix of step (b); (d) incubating said fibroblast cells; (e) measuring the levels of cell migration by inspecting the interior of the gel matrix of step (a) and the control gel matrix of step (b) for cells; (f) comparing the levels of cell migration measured in step (e), whereby a modulator of cell migration is identified by its ability to alter the level of cell migration in the gel matrix of step (a) when compared to the level of cell migration in the control gel matrix of step (b); wherein said Cyr61 is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2 and 4, and fragments, analogs, homologs, variants and derivatives thereof with at least 91% similarity and comprising 38 cysteines and wherein said fragments, analogs, homologs, variants and derivatives mediate cellular attachment to the extracellular matrix.