Cytokines and Genes Differentially Affected by TNF Blockers
AssigneeUniversity of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
InventorRobert Wallis
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to cytokines and genes that are differentially affected by TNF blockers and the use of these genes and cytokines to help asses the TB risks of new immunosuppressive therapies, to help evaluate the effects of new TB vaccines, and to help assess TB susceptibility in persons exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Claims5
A method of analyzing the effect of a composition on the risk of TB infection comprising:
- i. exposing the composition to a cytokine or gene associated with TB defense, wherein the cytokine or gene is capable of being deactivated by TNF blockade;
- and
- ii. analyzing the results, wherein deactivation of the cytokine or gene indicates that the composition will have a higher probability of increasing the risk of TB infection compared to a composition that activates the cytokine or gene.
A method of analyzing the effect of a composition on the risk of TB infection comprising:
- i. exposing the composition to a cytokine or gene associated with TB risk, wherein the cytokine or gene is capable of being deactivated by TNF blockade;
- and
- ii. analyzing the results, wherein deactivation of the cytokine or gene indicates that the composition will have a higher probability of decreasing the risk of TB infection compared to a composition that activates the cytokine or gene.
A model for the assessment of TB susceptibility in a subject exposed to M. tuberculosis comprising testing the affect of a composition on cytokines or genes that are differentially affected by TNF blockade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.