Use of modified extracellular matrix proteins in diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of fibronectin, tenascin, collagens type I, III, VI and/or VIII modified by aldehyde or by glycosylation in ELISA for detection of antibodies in plasma and serum to diagnose atherosclerosis as well as the use of induction of tolerance and active as well as passive immunization against glycosylated or aldehydemodified fibronectin, tenascin, collagen type I, III, VI and/or VIII for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

1 . The use of fibronectin, tenascin, collagens type I, III, VI and/or VIII modified by aldehyde or by glycosylation in an antibody determination assay for detection of antibodies in plasma and serum to diagnose atherosclerosis.  
   
   
       2 . The use according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody assay is an ELISA.  
   
   
       3 . The use according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibronectin, tenascin, collagens type I, III, VI and VIII have been modified by malondialdehyde.  
   
   
       4 . The use according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibronectin, tenascin, collagens type I, III, VI and VIII have been modified by 4-hydroxynonenal.  
   
   
       5 . The use of antibodies against glycosylated fibronectin, tenascin, collagens type I, III, VI and/or VIII produced by immunization or recombinant technique for detection of aldehyde-modified fibronectin, tenascin, collagen type I, III, VI and VIII in plasma and serum to diagnose presence of unstable and rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaques.  
   
   
       6 . The use of antibodies against aldehyde-modified fibronectin, tenascin, collagens type I, III, VI and/or VIII produced by immunization or recombinant technique for detection of aldehyde-modified fibronectin, tenascin, collagen type I, III, VI and VIII in plasma and serum to diagnose presence of unstable and rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaques.  
   
   
       7 . The use of labelled antibodies against glycosylated fibronectin, tenascin, collagens type I, III, VI and/or VIII produced by immunization or recombinant technique in imaging of atherosclerotic plaques.  
   
   
       8 . The use of labelled antibodies against aldehyde-modified fibronectin, tenascin, collagens type I, III, VI and/or VIII produced by immunization or recombinant technique in Imaging of atherosclerotic plaques.  
   
   
       9 . The use of induction of tolerance against glycosylated fibronectin, tenascin, collagen type I, III, VI and/or VIII for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.  
   
   
       10 . The use of induction of tolerance against aldehyde-modified fibronectin, tenascin, collagen type I, III, VI and/or VIII for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.  
   
   
       11 . The use of active immunization against glycosylated fibronectin, tenascin, collagen type I, III, VI and/or VIII for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.  
   
   
       12 . The use of active immunization against aldehyde-modified fibronectin, tenascin, collagen type I, III, VI and/or VIII for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.  
   
   
       13 . The use of passive immunization against glycosylated fibronectin, tenascin, collagen type I, III, VI and/or VIII for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.  
   
   
       14 . The use of passive immunization against aldehyde-modified fibronectin, tenascin, collagen type I, III, VI and/or VIII for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.