Use of ULIP proteins in the diagnosis and therapy of cancers and paraneoplastic neurological syndromes

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of proteins designated ULIP/POP in the diagnosis and therapy of cancers and paraneoplastic neurological syndromes.

1 . A purified ULIP polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 8.  
     
     
         2 . A composition comprising a purified polypeptide comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 8, or a purified fragment thereof, wherein the purified polypeptide or fragment binds to anti-CV2 antibodies.  
     
     
         3 . A method for detecting the presence of anti-CV2 antibodies in a biological sample, comprising: 
 contacting a biological sample with a purified ULIP polypeptide comprising SEQ ID No. 8, or a fragment thereof that binds to anti-CV2 antibodies; and    detecting specific immunological complexes optionally formed, the specific immunological complexes being indicative of the presence of anti-CV2 antibodies.    
     
     
         4 . A kit for detection of anti-CV2 antibodies in a biological sample, said kit comprising: 
 at least one purified ULIP polypeptide comprising SEQ ID No. 8, or a fragment thereof that binds to anti-CV2 antibodies, said polypeptide or fragment optionally attached to a support, and    means of visualization of the formation of specific antigen/antibody complexes between an anti-POP-66 auto-antibody and the purified ULIP polypeptide or fragment and/or means of quantification of these complexes.    
     
     
         5 . A method of detecting anti-CV2 antibodies in a subject, said method comprising the steps of: 
 contacting a sample from the subject with a purified polypeptide comprising SEQ ID No. 8, or a fragment thereof that binds to anti-CV2 antibodies, said contacting carried out under conditions sufficient to allow the formation of specific immunological complexes between the polypeptide or fragment thereof and anti-CV2 antibodies present within the sample; and    detecting the specific immunological complexes formed;    wherein the presence of immunological complexes is indicative of the presence of anti-CV2 antibodies in said subject.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the polypeptide consists of SEQ ID No. 8.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , comprising contacting the sample from the subject with a fragment of the purified polypeptide, said polypeptide consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 8, wherein said fragment binds to anti-CV2 antibodies.  
     
     
         8 . A reagent for identifying anti-CV2 antibodies to a polypeptide in a sample from a subject, said reagent comprising 
 a purified peptide comprising a fragment of the polypeptide of  claim 1  wherein the fragment binds to anti-CV2 antibodies, said fragment attached to a solid support.    
     
     
         9 . A kit for identifying antibodies in a sample from a subject to a polypeptide comprising amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 8, said kit comprising a fragment of said polypeptide that binds to anti-CV2 antibodies.  
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the kit further comprises means of visualizing formation of complexes between said fragment and antibodies to the polypeptide comprising amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 8.  
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the fragment of said polypeptide is purified.  
     
     
         12 . A reagent for identifying anti-CV2 antibodies in a sample from a subject, said reagent comprising: 
 a purified polypeptide comprising amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:8, said polypeptide attached to a solid support.