In such an embodiment, the EGF-like domain of ARIA is given by thegeneral formula, as set out above, CX.sub.1 CX.sub.2 CX.sub.3 CX.sub.4 CX.sub.5 C, where C is a cysteine, X.sub.1 represents 4 to 14 amino acids which can be the same or different, X.sub.2 represents 3 to 8 amino acids which can be the same or different,X.sub.3 represents 4 to 14 amino acids which can be the same or different, X.sub