Methods for treating fibroproliferative diseases

An in vitro assay for identifying whether a test compound is useful for treatment of a subject afflicted with a fibroproliferative disease, said method comprising:

• determining the levels of Jun kinase activity in the presence and absence of the test compound in test cells maintained in the presence of serum obtained from the subject,
• wherein the test cells are fibroblasts, neuroblastomas, glial cells, smooth muscle cells, or cells obtained from the particular organ of interest, and
• wherein a reduction of Jun kinase activity in the presence of the test compound, compared to the absence of said test compound, is predictive of the efficacy of said test compound for the treatment of diseases or conditions characterized by one or more of the following:
• increased levels of c-Jun homodimers,
• increased heterodimerization of c-Jun with another signaling peptide,
• increased levels of phosphorylated c-Jun, and
• increased presence of Jun kinase.

An in vitro assay to determine whether a compound that reduces c-Jun phosphorylation is effective for treatment of a subject afflicted with a fibroproliferative disease, said method comprising:

• determining the uptake by test cells in suitable media therefor, of a labeled building block indicative of cell proliferation, wherein said uptake is determined in the presence of serum obtained from said subject, and in the presence and absence of said compound,
• wherein test cells are fibroblasts, glial cells, smooth muscle cells, or cells obtained from the particular organ of interest, and
• wherein reduction of uptake by the test cells of labeled building block in the presence of said test compound, relative to the uptake by the test cells of labeled building block in the absence of said test compound, is predictive of the efficacy of said test compound for the treatment of diseases or conditions characterized by one or more of the following:
• increased levels of c-Jun homodimers,
• increased heterodimerization of c-Jun with another signaling peptide,
• increased levels of phosphorylated c-Jun, and
• increased presence of Jun kinase.

A kit useful for assays to determine whether a test compound is effective for treatment of diseases and/or conditions characterized by one or more of the following:

• increased levels of c-Jun homodimers,
• increased heterodimerization of c-Jun with another signaling peptide,
• increased levels of phosphorylated c-Jun, and
• increased presence of Jun kinase,
• said kit comprising:
• cultured fibroblasts, glial cells, smooth muscle cells, or cells obtained from the particular organ of interest in suitable assay medium,
• a composition containing a predetermined concentration of c-Jun, and
• one or more labeled building block indicative of cell proliferation.