Methods and compositions for treating disorders of the extracellular matrix
OwnerChai Zhonglin, Mark Cooper +1inventors
InventorsChai Zhonglin, Mark Cooper, Zemin Cao
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method for altering the level of an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein produced by a cell, the method including modulating expression or activity of a cell division auto antigen (CDA). The Applicants have surprisingly found that a CDA is involved in a pathway that controls the level of ECM protein produced by mammalian cells. The invention has relevance to a number of ECM-related disorders such as renal fibrosis and atherosclerosis.
Claims32
A method for altering the level of an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein produced by a cell, the method including modulating expression or activity of a cell division auto antigen (CDA).
A method for treating or preventing a condition related to synthesis of an ECM protein, the method including modulating the expression and/or activity of a CDA.
A non-human animal for use in studying disorders of the ECM, the animal having a cell capable of expressing a CDA at an altered level.
A method of screening for an agent capable of modulating ECM synthesis, the method including the steps of
- providing an animal or a cell capable of expressing a CDA,
- exposing the animal or cell to the agent, and
- determining the effect of the agent on the CDA expression and/or activity.
A method of modulating CDA expression and/or activity in a cell, the method including exposing the cell to an agent capable of modulating the expression and/or activity of a factor selected from the group consisting of angiotensin II, TGFβ and connective tissue growth factor.
A method of diagnosing a condition related to the synthesis of a ECM protein in an animal, the method including
- obtaining a biological sample from the animal,
- determining the level of CDA in the sample, and
- comparing the level of CDA in the sample to a reference value
- wherein a positive diagnosis is made if the level of CDA in the sample is statistically significantly higher or lower than the reference value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.