Patent ID: 7557078

Claim:
A method for decreasing neuronal cell death associated with a neuropathy, wherein neuronal cell survival is mediated by expression of N-CAM or L1, comprising: administering to a subject afflicted with said neuropathy a morphogen comprising a dimeric protein, the dimeric protein having one or more of the following: (1) a conserved C-terminal six-cysteine skeleton at least 60% identical to residues 43-139 of SEQ ID NO: 5; (2) a conserved C-terminal seven-cysteine skeleton at least 70% homologous to residues 38-139 of SEQ ID NO: 5; (3) a conserved C-terminal six-cysteine skeleton at least 70% homologous to residues 43-139 of SEQ ID NO: 5; or (4) an amino acid sequence of human OP-1, mouse OP-1, human OP-2, mouse OP-2, 60A, GDF-1, BMP2A, BMP2B, DPP, Vgl, Vgr-1, BMP3, BMP5, or BMP6; wherein the morphogen (i) stimulates the production of said N-CAM or L1 in said neuronal cell, and (ii) decreases neuronal cell death associated with said neuropathy.