Method for diagnosing and treating emphysema

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for diagnosing a patient with emphysema or COPD by detecting the levels of EMAP II in a sample. Alternatively, methods are provided for determining the susceptibility of a patient to develop emphysema or COPD by detecting the levels of EMAP II in a sample. The levels of EMAP II may be determined by immunoassay techniques. The present invention also provides methods for treating patients with emphysema or COPD by administering a therapeutically effective amount of an EMAP II neutralizing compound. The compound may be an antibody, siRNA, antisense RNA or an antagonist of CXCR3.

1 . A method for predicting a patient's susceptibility for developing emphysema or COPD comprising the step of detecting an overexpression of EMAP II in a patient's biological sample. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient's sample is serum, plasma, lavage or lung biopsy. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the overexpression of EMAP II is detected by ELISA, sandwich ELISA or western blot. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EMAP II is pro-EMAP II, mature EMAP II or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of detecting overexpression of EMAP II in a patient's biological sample further comprises the steps of:
 determining or observing the amount of EMAP II levels in the sample; and   comparing the levels of EMAP II levels in the sample to a control.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein EMAP II is overexpressed at least 2-fold as compared to a control. 
     
     
         7 . A method of diagnosing a patient for emphysema or COPD comprising the steps of detecting an overexpression of EMAP II in a patient's biological sample. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the patient's biological sample is serum, plasma, lavage or lung biopsy. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the overexpression of EMAP II is detected by ELISA, sandwich ELISA or western blot. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the steps of detecting overexpression of EMAP II in a patient's biological sample further comprises the steps of:
 determining or observing the amount of EMAP II levels in the sample; and 
 comparing the levels of EMAP II levels in the sample to a control. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein EMAP II is overexpressed at least 2-fold as compared to a control. 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating a patient, comprising the step of:
 identifying a patient, wherein the patient is diagnosed with a disease selected from the group of diseases consisting of: emphysema and COPD;   providing at least one compound that reduces EMAP II activity; and   administering a therapeutically effective does of said compound that reduces EMAP II activity to the patient.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said compound that reduces EMAP II activity is an anti-EMAP II antibody. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the anti-EMAP II antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the anti-EMAP II antibody is the rat monoclonal antibody neutralizing antibody M7. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said compound that reduces EMAP II activity is a siRNA wherein the siRNA target a nucleotide specific for the expression of EMAP II. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said compound that reduces EMAP II activity is an anti-CXCR3 antibody. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , where the anti-CXCR3 antibody is selected from the group consisting of anti-CXCR3A antibody and anti-CXCR3B antibody. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the anti-CXCR3 antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said compound that reduces EMAP II activity is a siRNA wherein the siRNA target a nucleotide specific for the expression of CXCR3. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , where the siRNA is specific for a nucleotide from the group consisting of CXCR3A and CXCR3B. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the patient is an animal. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the patient is a human 
     
     
         24 . A kit for diagnosing emphysema or COPD, comprising:
 a first reagent that quantitatively binds to at least one biomarker selected from the group consisting of: EMAP II, to a portion of a nucleotide that encodes an EMAP II; CXCR3 and to a portion of a nucleotide that encodes; CXCR3.   
     
     
         25 . The kit for diagnosing emphysema or COPD according to  claim 24 , wherein the reagent is anti-EMAP II antibody. 
     
     
         26 . The kit according to  claim 24 , wherein the anti-EMAP II antibody is the rat monoclonal antibody neutralizing antibody M7. 
     
     
         27 . The kit for diagnosing emphysema or COPD according to  claim 24 , wherein the reagent selectively binds to at least a portion of a nucleotide that encodes EMAP II. 
     
     
         28 . The kit for diagnosing emphysema or COPD according to  claim 24 , wherein the reagent is anti-CXCR3 antibody. 
     
     
         29 . The kit for diagnosing emphysema or COPD according to  claim 24 , wherein the reagent selectively binds to at least a portion of a nucleotide that encodes CXCR3. 
     
     
         30 . The kit according to  claim 24 , wherein the kit further includes at least one molecule that binds to the reagent that quantitatively binds to at least one biomarker selected from the group consisting of: EMAP II, to a portion of a nucleotide that encodes an EMAP II; CXCR3 and to a portion of a nucleotide that encodes; CXCR3. 
     
     
         31 . The kit according to  claim 24 , wherein the kit further includes at least buffering agent