Test method for ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis

A method for diagnosing and treating ulcerative colitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis complicated with ulcerative colitis in a test subject, the method comprising:

• detecting the presence or absence of an antibody that immunologically reacts with full-length integrin αVβ6 or a fragment thereof in a specimen derived from a test subject;
• when the presence of the antibody is detected in the specimen, diagnosing the test subject as having ulcerative colitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis complicated with ulcerative colitis;
• and
• administering an amount of a therapeutic agent effective for treating ulcerative colitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis complicated with ulcerative colitis to the test subject diagnosed as having ulcerative colitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis complicated with ulcerative colitis;
• wherein the therapeutic agent is a steroid drug, a 5-aminosalicylic acid (5ASA) preparation, an immunomodulator, a biological preparation, an anti-TNFα agent, or an immunosuppressant.

A method for diagnosing ulcerative colitis and/or primary sclerosing cholangitis in a test subject, the method comprising:

• contacting a specimen derived from a test subject with a solid-phase support comprising an antigen immobilized thereon, the antigen being full-length integrin αVβ6 or a fragment thereof;
• detecting the binding of the antigen to an antibody that immunologically reacts with the antigen, thereby detecting the presence or absence of the antibody in the specimen;
• and
• when the presence of the antibody is detected in the specimen, diagnosing the test subject as having ulcerative colitis and/or primary sclerosing cholangitis.