The present invention provides for an isolated nucleic acid molecule
encoding a member of the TIE ligand family. The present invention also
provides for an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding TIE ligand-3 or
TIE ligand-4. In addition, the invention provides for a receptorbody which
specifically binds TIE ligand-3 or TIE ligand-4. The invention also
provides an antibody which specifically binds TIE ligand-3 or TIE
ligand-4. The invention further provides for an antagonist of TIE. The
invention also provides for therapeutic compositions as well as a method
of blocking blood vessel growth, a method of promoting neovascularization,
a method of promoting the growth or differentiation of a cell expressing
the TIE receptor, a method of blocking the growth or differentiation of a
cell expressing the TIE receptor and a method of attenuating or preventing
tumor growth in a human.
