Methods and compositions for diagnosing and monitoring autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases

Abstract

Methods of diagnosing or monitoring autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosis and rheumatoid arthritis, in a patient by detecting the expression level of one or more genes in a patient, are described. Diagnostic oligonucleotides for diagnosing or monitoring autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosis and rheumatoid arthritis and kits or systems containing the same are also described.

1 . A method of diagnosing or monitoring an autoimmune or chronic inflammatory disease in a patient, comprising detecting the expression level of a gene in said patient to diagnose or monitor said autoimmune or chronic inflammatory disease in said patient wherein said gene is a member of the interferon-induced gene family. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said gene comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 503, SEQ ID NO: 504, SEQ ID NO: 505, SEQ ID NO: 506, SEQ ID NO: 507, SEQ ID NO: 508, SEQ ID NO: 509, SEQ ID NO: 510, SEQ ID NO: 515, and SEQ ID NO: 516. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said autoimmune or chronic inflammatory disease is selected from the group consisting of: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Cholecystitis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, Sjogrens Disease, CREST syndrome, Scleroderma, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, Appendicitis, Diverticulitis, Primary Biliary Sclerosis, Wegener's Granulomatosis, Polyarteritis nodosa, Whipple's Disease, Psoriasis, Microscopic Polyanngiitis, Takayasu's Disease, Kawasaki's Disease, Autoimmune hepatitis, Asthma, Churg-Strauss Disease, Beurger's Disease, Raynaud's Disease, and Cholecystitis. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said disease is Systemic Lupus Erythematosis. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said disease is Rheumatoid Arthritis. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said expression level is detected by measuring the RNA level expressed by said gene. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further including isolating RNA from said patient prior to detecting said RNA level expressed by said gene. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said RNA level is detected by PCR. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said RNA level is detected by hybridization. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said RNA level is detected by hybridization to an oligonucleotide. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said oligonucleotide comprises DNA, RNA, cDNA, PNA, genomic DNA, or synthetic oligonucleotides. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said expression level detected is expression level in the patient's bodily fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said bodily fluid is peripheral blood.