Methods for detecting neurological disorders
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsJeffrey Rothstein, Chieng-Liang Lin, Lynn Bristol
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Abstract
In one aspect, the present invention features methods for detecting at least one neurological disorder in a patient, the method comprising obtaining a biological sample from the patient; and detecting at least one aberrant human glutamate transporter 2 (EAAT 2) mRNA in the sample as being indicative of the neurological disorder in the patient. In a particular aspect, the invention is useful for detecting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the patient.
Claims20
A method of detecting a neurological disorder in a patient, the method comprising obtaining a biological sample from the patient;
- and detecting at least one aberrant human glutamate transporter 2 (EAAT 2) mRNA in the sample as being indicative of the neurological disorder in the patient.
A method of isolating an aberrant human glutamate transporter 2 (EAAT 2) cDNA, the method comprising:
- a) obtaining a biological sample from a patient having or suspected of having a neurological disorder, wherein the sample comprises mRNA,
- b) producing cDNA from the sample, the cDNA comprising DNA sequence substantially homologous to any one of SEQ ID NOs. 3 and 5-13 or the complement thereof,
- c) introducing the cDNA into test cells under conditions sufficient to express the cDNA in the test cells;
- and
- d) detecting a reduction in glutamate transport in the test cells compared to control cells expressing a normal human glutamate transporter 2 gene or cDNA as indicative of isolation of the aberrant human glutamate transporter 2 (EAAT 2) cDNA.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.