Variants of vegfr and their use in the diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy associated medical conditions

Abstract

An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 70% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 4 and an isolated polynucleotide encoding same are disclosed. A polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence capable of specifically hybridizing to the isolated polynucleotide and an isolated antibody comprising an antigen recognition domain which specifically binds the isolated polypeptide are also disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions, methods of diagnosing and treating comprising same are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of diagnosing a pregnancy-associated medical condition associated with maternal or fetal stress in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:
 (a) detecting expression level of sFlt-14 (SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4) in a biological sample of the subject using an agent capable of recognizing sFlt-14 (SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4) and not sFlt-1 (SEQ ID NO: 10); and   (b) diagnosing said subject as having a pregnancy-associated medical condition associated with maternal or fetal stress based on the presence of increased level of said sFlt-14 (SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4) in said biological sample as compared to a sample of a normal pregnant subject.   
     
     
         2 . A method of diagnosing preeclampsia in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:
 (a) detecting expression level of sFlt-14 (SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4) in a biological sample of the subject using an agent capable of recognizing sFlt-14 (SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4) and not sFlt-1 (SEQ ID NO: 10); and   (b) diagnosing said subject as having a preeclampsia based on the presence of increased level of said sFlt-14 (SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4) in said biological sample as compared to a sample of a normal pregnant subject.   
     
     
         3 . A method of diagnosing preeclampsia in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:
 (a) detecting expression level of sFlt-14 (SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4) in a serum sample or a placenta tissue sample of the subject using an antibody capable of recognizing sFlt-14 (SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4) and not sFlt-1 (SEQ ID NO: 10); and   (b) diagnosing said subject as having a preeclampsia based on the presence of increased level of said sFlt-14 (SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4) in said serum sample or said placenta tissue sample as compared to a sample of a normal pregnant subject.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said condition is selected from the group consisting of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, fetal growth restriction (FGR), and fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said agent is an antibody. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said agent is an antibody. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a urine sample, a blood sample, a serum sample, a placenta biopsy, a chorionic villus sample, and an amniotic fluid sample. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a urine sample, a blood sample, a serum sample, a placenta biopsy, a chorionic villus sample, and an amniotic fluid sample. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , being effected in vitro or ex vivo. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , being effected in vitro or ex vivo. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , being effected in vitro or ex vivo. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample is of a gestation week 13 and on. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said biological sample is of a gestation week 13 and on. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said serum sample or said placenta tissue sample is of a gestation week 13 and on.