GENERATION OF BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD NEURONS, CARDIAC MYOCYTES, RENAL NEPHRONS AND HEPATOCYTES USING REG PEPTIDES, PEPTIDOMIMETICS, SMALL MOLECULES AND STIMULATORY ANTIBODIES TO REG RECEPTOR
Peptides that are bioactive regions and optimized bioactive regions of the human and mammalian Reg gene proteins and that are capable of generation of tissues such as brain, spinal cord, heart, liver, and kidney are described. In particular, 7-15-amino acid Reg peptides and optimized Reg peptides are disclosed which are capable of in vivo and ex vivo transformation of progenitor cells, progenitor tissue and stem cells into specialized cells and tissues, including functioning brain and spinal cord neurons, cardiac myocytes, liver hepatocytes and renal nephrons. Methods of in vivo and ex vivo transformation of progenitor cells into differentiated cells and tissues are also described.
