Method for identifying T cells involved in autoimmune disease
AssigneeNational Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine
InventorsBrian L. Kotzin, Philippa Marrack, John Kappler, Xavier Paliard
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for identifying T cell populations involved in autoimmune diseases. This involves determining levels of a V.beta. element in a body fluid sample of a patient and comparing this to normal levels. Variation from normal levels is indicative of an autoimmune disease. The invention also involves assaying T cell subpopulations in a sample to determine clonality of .beta. chains. Clonality can also be used to diagnose autoimmune disorders.
Claims22
A method for identifying a T-cell population implicated in an autoimmune disease, comprising:
- (i) assaying a T-cell containing sample of a patient taken from a site characterized by deterioration thereof associated with said autoimmune disease to determine the expression of a particular V.beta. element;
- and
- (ii) comparing said V.beta. element expression with V.beta. element expression from a comparable T-cell containing sample of a non-deteriorated body fluid or tissue from said patient, wherein variation therefrom is indicative of a T-cell population involved in said autoimmune disease.
A method for diagnosing an autoimmune disease comprising:
- (i) assaying a T-cell-containing body fluid or tissue sample taken from a site characterized by immune deterioration in a patient to determine expression of a particular V.beta. element associated with said autoimmune disease, and
- (ii) comparing the expression of said V.beta. element from the deteriorated site to the expression of said V.beta. element in a non-deteriorated body fluid or tissue sample from said patient, wherein differences in the V.beta. expression are indicative of said autoimmune disease.
A method for identifying a T-cell population implicated in an autoimmune disease, comprising:
- (i) assaying a T-cell containing sample of a patient taken from a site characterized by deterioration thereof associated with said autoimmune disease to determine the expression of a particular V.beta. element;
- and
- (ii) comparing said V.beta. element expression with V.beta. element expression from a comparable T-cell containing sample from a non-deteriorated site from said patient wherein variation in the percentage of T cells expressing said V.beta. element or the presence of clonality of the V.beta. expressing population is indicative of a T-cell population involved in said autoimmune disease.
A method for determining clonality in a T-cell V.beta. population implicated in an autoimmune disease, comprising:
- (i) assaying a sample from a site of deterioration in a patient, said sample having an amplified V.beta. population implicated in the autoimmune disease to determine the number of different .beta. sequences expressed therein, wherein each .beta. sequence represents a different subpopulation;
- and
- (ii) determining the percentage of the V.beta. population corresponding to each of the different .beta. sequences, wherein clonality is indicated by one .beta. sequence being present in a percentage greater than the percentage of said one .beta. sequence in a non-deteriorated site in said patient.
A method of implicating a T cell subpopulation in an autoimmune disease, comprising the steps of:
- (i) assaying a V.beta. population that is amplified at a site of deterioration in a patient to determine the number of different .beta. sequences expressed therein, wherein each .beta. sequence represents a different subpopulation;
- and
- (ii) determining the percentage of the V.beta. population corresponding to each of the different .beta., sequences, wherein a T-cell subpopulation is implicated in an autoimmune disease when one .beta. sequence is present in a percentage greater than the percentage of said one .beta. sequence in a non-deteriorated site from said patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.