Compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of diseases characterized by a-33 related antigens

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods of treating and diagnosing disorders characterized the by the presence of antigens associated with inflammatory diseases and/or cancer, and nucleotide sequences, including expressed sequence tags (ESTs), oligonucleotide probes, polypeptides, vectors and host cells expressing such antigens PRO301, PRO362 or PRO245.

1 . A method of diagnosing an inflammatory disease in a mammal, comprising detecting the level of expression of a gene encoding a PRO362 polypeptide (a) in a test sample of tissue cells obtained from the mammal, and (b) in a control sample of known normal tissue cells of the same cell type, wherein a higher expression level in the test sample indicates the presence of an inflammatory disease in the mammal. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the level of expression is detected by contacting the test sample and the control sample with an anti-PRO362 antibody. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the antibody is equipped with a detectable label. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the detectable label is a fluorescent label. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein binding of the antibody to the PRO362 polypeptide is monitored by light microscopy, flow cytometry, or fluorimetry. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein binding of the antibody to the PRO362 polypeptide is monitored in situ by immunofluorescence or immunoelectron microscopy.