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 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 labeled 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 labeled 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. 
     
     
         15 . A method of detecting antibodies against aldehyde-modified fibronectin, tenacin or collagens type I, III, VI or VII in a plasma or serum sample to diagnose atherosclerosis, said method comprising detecting antibodies utilizing aldehyde-modified fibronectin, tenascin, collagens type I, III, VI or VIII, respectively, and wherein an increased presence of such antibodies in the sample compared to the level of such antibodies in plasma or serum from a healthy individual indicated that the sample has been obtained from an individual having arthrosclerosis. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the antibody assay is an ELISA. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the fibronectin, tenascin, collagens type I, III, VI and VIII have been modified by malondialdehyde. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the fibronectin, tenascin, collagens type I, III, VI and VIII have been modified by 4-hydroxynonenal