Identification of dysregulated genes in patients with neurological diseases
AssigneeThe Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
InventorsClemens Scherzer, Steven Gullans, Roderick Jensen
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Abstract
The present invention identifies a number of gene markers whose expression is altered in neurodegenerative diseases (ND). These markers can be used to diagnose or predict ND in subjects, and can be used in the monitoring of therapies. In addition, these genes identify therapeutic targets, the modification of which may prevent ND development or progression.
Claims44
A method of predicting whether a subject is or will be afflicted with a neurodegenerative disease (ND) comprising:
- (a) obtaining an mRNA- or protein-containing sample from said subject;
- (b) determining expression information for one or more genes/gene products from the group consisting of those set forth in Tables 1-5;
- (c) comparing expression information for said selected genes/gene products with the expression information of the same genes/gene products in a subject not afflicted with ND;
- and
- (d) predicting whether said subject is or will be afflicted with ND.
A chip or wafer comprising a nucleic acid microarray, wherein said nucleic acids hybridize to target transcripts or cDNAs for genes set forth in Tables 1-5.
A method for monitoring a therapy for a neurodegenerative disease (ND) comprising:
- (a) obtaining an mRNA-containing sample from a subject receiving said therapy;
- (b) determining expression information for one or more genes comprising Tables 1-5;
- and
- (c) comparing expression information for said selected genes with the expression information of the same genes in an ND subject not receiving said therapy.
A method for determining the efficacy of a therapy for a neurodegenerative disease (ND) comprising:
- (a) obtaining an mRNA- or protein-containing sample from a subject receiving said therapy;
- (b) determining expression and/or functional information for one or more selected genes/proteins selected from the group consisting of Tables 1-5;
- (c) comparing expression and/or functional information for said one or more selected genes/proteins with the expression information of the same gene or genes in an ND subject not receiving said therapy;
- and
- (d) determining the efficacy of said therapy based on the ability of said therapy to alter the expression and/or function of said one or more genes/proteins.
A method for treating a neurodegenerative disease (ND) comprising administering to a subject with ND a drug that normalizes the expression or activity of a gene product listed in Tables 1-4.
A method of predicting whether a subject develop a severe form of neurodegenerative disease (ND) comprising:
- (a) obtaining an mRNA-containing sample from said subject;
- (b) determining expression information for one or more genes from the group consisting of those set forth in Tables 1-5;
- (c) comparing expression information for said selected genes with the expression information of the same genes in a subject afflicted with ND that does or does not progress to a severe from of ND;
- and
- (d) predicting whether said subject will progress to a severe form of ND.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.