Method to Regulate ALOX12-AS1 IncRNA-Mediated Alteration of ALOX12 Protein and to Screen for Novel Drugs to Alter ALOX12 Protein Level

A method for determining if a patient is a candidate for further screening for a disease characterized by abnormal ALOX12 protein levels comprising:

• measuring expression levels of ALOX-AS1 lncRNA and a reference lncRNA in a blood sample taken from the patient;
• comparing the patient ALOX12-AS1 lncRNA expression level to a control ALOX12-AS1 lncRNA expression level, thereby providing an ALOX12-AS1 lncRNA ratio;
• comparing the patient reference lncRNA expression level and to a control reference lncRNA expression level, thereby providing a reference lncRNA ratio, wherein:
• if the ALOX12-AS1 lncRNA ratio is greater than the reference lncRNA ratio, the individual is screen for an acute or chronic inflammatory disease;
• if the ALOX12-AS1 lncRNA ratio is lower than the reference lncRNA ratio, the individual is screened for a decreased inflammatory response disease.

A method for determining if a compound of interest is an ALOX12 modulating compound comprising:

• (a) growing a culture of cells in the presence of a compound of interest;
• (b) after a suitable growth interval, measuring ALOX12 protein levels in the cells of the culture;
• (c) comparing the ALOX12 protein levels to control ALOX12 protein levels from a culture of similar cells grown under similar growth conditions except for presence of the compound of interest,
• wherein
• (d) if ALOX12 protein levels are elevated compared to the control ALOX12 protein levels, the compound is an ALOX12 activator;
• or
• (e) if ALOX12 protein levels are reduced compared to the control ALOX12 protein levels, the compound is an ALOX12 inhibitor.