Assay for pathogenicity of anti-DNA antibodies
AssigneeOklahoma Medical Research Foundation
InventorsMorris Reichlin, Eugen Koren, Wei Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Assays that are prognostic for patients that will develop nephritis have been developed where patient serum is screened for the presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies that are cross reactive with A and D SnRNP proteins. The assays are based on the use of either peptides containing epitopes bound by the anti-dsDNA antibodies, or the antigens for the antibodies, A and D SnRNP proteins. Therapeutic compositions have also been developed using either antibodies that block the pathogenicity of the anti-dsDNA antibodies, such as the naturally occurring anti-La/SSB, anti-Ro/SSA and anti-U1RNP antibodies that are cross reactive with the anti-dsDNA or using the peptides or A and D proteins to induce tolerance.
Claims4
A method for determining whether it is more likely than not that a lupus patient will develop severe disease and nephritis comprising determining if the patient produces anti-double stranded DNA antibodies that are cross-reactive with double stranded DNA and with denatured A SnRNP protein or D SnRNP protein.
An assay kit for determining whether it is more likely than not that a lupus patient will develop severe disease and nephritis comprising
- means for determining if the patient produces anti-double stranded antibodies that are crossreactive both with double stranded DNA and with denatured A and D SnRNP proteins,
- wherein the kit comprises as reagents:
- (1) double stranded DNA and (2) denatured A SnRNP protein, denatured D SnRNP protein, or both denatured A SnRNP protein and denatured D SNRNP protein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.