Method for detection or treatment of graft versus host disease

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of diagnosing graft-versus-host disease, comprising measuring the level of CCL8 protein in a sample obtained from a subject as an indicator for the diagnosis or course of graft-versus-host disease. Also a diagnostic reagent for graft-versus-host disease comprising an anti-CCL8 antibody is disclosed. The method of the present invention enables diagnosis of the onset of graft-versus-host disease and monitoring of the progress, in particular, differential diagnosis between graft-versus-host disease and an infectious disease. The present invention also provides a method for treating graft-versus-host disease utilizing the anti-CCL8 antibody.

1 . A method for testing graft-versus-host disease, comprising measuring the level of CCL8 protein in a sample obtained from a human subject or animal subject as an indicator for diagnosis or course of graft-versus-host disease. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the diagnosis of graft-versus-host disease is made before the manifestation of clinical signs of graft-versus-host disease. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the level of CCL8 protein is measured using an anti-CCL8 antibody. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the level of CCL8 protein is measured using a method selected from the group consisting of mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, and two-dimensional electrophoresis. 
     
     
         5 . A diagnostic reagent for graft-versus-host disease comprising an anti-CCL8 antibody. 
     
     
         6 . A method for selecting a candidate substance for a therapeutic agent for graft-versus-host disease, comprising the steps of:
 administering the test substance to a graft-versus-host disease model animal;   measuring the level of CCL8 protein in a sample obtained from the model animal; and   selecting the test substance as a candidate substance for a therapeutic agent for graft-versus-host disease if the CCL8 protein expression level is lower than the level without administration of the test substance.   
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating graft-versus-host disease comprising an anti-CCL8 antibody as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         8 . A method for treating graft-versus-host disease comprising administering an anti-CCL8 antibody to a subject suffering from graft-versus-host disease.