Methods for the Utilizaton of Novel Target Genes Related to Immune-Mediated Diseases
AssigneeTurun Yliopisto
InventorsRiikka Lund, Riitta Lahesmaa
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods utilizing novel target genes related to immune-mediated diseases, such as asthma, allergy and autoimmune diseases. The invention is based on a molecular level description of the polarization of CD4+ precursor cells (Thp) from which T helper cells are known to originate. Particularly, the present invention provides a method of identifying a compound capable of modulating the polarization of CD4+ lymphocytes. The invention is also related to a method for assessing the presence of, or disposition to, an immune-related disorder in a subject.
Claims20
A method of identifying a compound capable of modulating the polarization of CD4+ lymphocytes, the method comprising:
- (a) contacting said compound with naïve CD4+ lymphocytes;
- (b) inducing the polarization of the lymphocytes;
- (c) preparing a gene expression profile from the lymphocytes;
- (d) comparing the lymphocyte gene expression profile obtained from step (c) to a gene expression profile derived from expression data of Table 2, 3, 5, 6, and/or 7.
A method of identifying a compound that modulates the expression of at least one gene listed in Table 2, 3, 5, 6, and/or 7, the method comprising:
- (a) incubating a cell that can express a protein from said gene with a compound under conditions and for a time sufficient for the cell to express the protein of said gene, when the compound is not present;
- (b) incubating a control cell under the same conditions and for the same time without the compound;
- (c) measuring expression of said gene in the cell in the presence of the compound;
- (d) measuring expression of said gene in the control cell;
- and
- (e) comparing the amount of expression of said gene in the presence and absence of the compound, wherein a difference in the level of expression indicates that the compound modulates the expression of said gene.
A method of identifying a compound that modulates the activity of at least one gene listed in Table 2, 3, 5, 6, and/or 7, the method comprising:
- (a) incubating a cell that has said activity with a compound under conditions and for a time sufficient for the cell to express said activity, when the compound is not present;
- (b) incubating a control cell under the same conditions and for the same time without the compound;
- (c) measuring said activity in the cell in the presence of the compound;
- (d) measuring said activity in the control cell;
- and
- (e) comparing the amount of said activity in the presence and absence of the compound, wherein a difference in the level of expression indicates that the compound modulates the activity of said gene.
A method for classifying a lymphocyte, comprising:
- (a) providing a test sample derived from the lymphocyte, wherein the lymphocyte is capable of expressing one or more nucleic acid markers from the group consisting of those listed in Table 2, 3, 5, 6, and/or 7;
- (b) determining the expression level of the one or more markers in the test sample;
- (c) comparing the expression level of the one or more markers in the test sample with the expression level of the same markers in a control sample, wherein the control sample is derived from a lymphocytic cell whose cellular status is known;
- and
- (d) classifying the lymphocyte on the basis of the comparison of step (c).
A method for detecting the presence of, or a predisposition to, an immune-related disorder in a subject, the method comprising:
- (a) determining the expression level of one or more nucleic acid markers in a test sample obtained from the subject, wherein the one or more nucleic acid markers are selected from the group consisting of those listed in Table 2, 3, 5, 6, and/or 7;
- (b) comparing the expression level of the one or more nucleic acid markers in the test sample with the expression level of the same markers in a control sample whose immune status is known;
- and
- (c) diagnosing the presence or absence of the immune disorder in the subject, or a predisposition to the immune disorder, on the basis of the comparison of step (b).
A method for identifying a compound that modulates differentiation of a lymphocyte, the method comprising:
- (a) contacting a test cell capable of expressing one or more gene markers listed in Table 2, 3, 5, 6, and/or 7 with a test compound;
- and
- (b) determining the expression level of the one or more gene markers in the test cell;
- and
- (c) comparing the expression level of the one or more gene markers with the expression level of the same markers for a control cell, wherein
- the test cell and the control cell are lymphocytes and the cellular state of the control cell is known;
- and
- a difference in the expression level between the test and control cell is an indicator that the test compound is a modulator of lymphocyte differentiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.