Patent ID: 7067489

Claim:
A method for stimulating growth factor production by stromal cells in vivo comprising: contacting the stromal cells with an agent in an amount effective to stimulate growth factor production by the stromal cells, wherein the agent is a compound of Formula I: wherein m is an integer between 0 and 10, inclusive; A and A 1 are L-amino acid residues such that the A in each repeating bracketed unit can be the same or a different amino acid residue; the C bonded to B is in the L-configuration; the bonds between A and N, A 1 and C, and between A 1 and N are peptide bonds; and each X 1 and X 2 is, independently, a hydroxyl group or a group capable of being hydrolyzed to a hydroxyl group in aqueous solution at physiological pH, and wherein the agent is orally administered in an amount less than 1.0 mg/kg body weight per day.