Method of determining risk of scoliosis

Abstract

A method for determining the risk for developing a scoliosis comprising monitoring osteopontin (OPN) expression in a sample from a subject over time; wherein an OPN expression that increases in the subject sample over time is indicative that the subject is at risk for developing a scoliosis.

1 . A method for determining the risk for developing a scoliosis, comprising:
 (a) measuring osteopontin (OPN) protein expression in a biological fluid sample from a subject over time; or   (b) measuring osteopontin (OPN) protein expression in a biological fluid sample from a subject and comparing the OPN protein expression to an OPN protein expression in a control biological fluid sample;   
       wherein an OPN protein expression that increases in the subject sample over time or wherein an OPN protein expression that is higher in the subject sample than that in the control sample, is indicative that the subject is at risk for developing a scoliosis. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring OPN protein expression begins when the subject is about three years old. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring OPN protein expression is performed at a frequency of at least about once per month. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring OPN protein expression is performed at a frequency of at least about once per six months. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring OPN protein expression is performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or radioimmunoassay (RIA). 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a likely candidate for developing a scoliosis. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a likely candidate for developing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is pre-diagnosed as having a scoliosis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is pre-diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. 
     
     
         11 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises
 (a) measuring soluble CD44 receptor (sCD44) expression in the biological fluid sample from the subject over time; or   (b) measuring sCD44 expression in the biological fluid sample from a subject and comparing the sCD44 expression to a sCD44 expression in the control biological fluid sample;   
       Wherein a sCD44 expression that decreases in the subject sample over time or wherein a sCD44 expression that is lower in the subject sample than that in the control sample, is a further indication that the subject is at risk for developing a scoliosis. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological fluid is selected from the group consisting of blood, urine, tear and saliva. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the biological fluid is plasma. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring of the OPN protein expression is performed with an antibody that specifically binds to OPN. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the measuring of the OPN protein expression is performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the sample is a plasma sample and an OPN protein expression that is higher than 700 nanograms per milliliter of plasma is indicative that the subject is at risk for developing a scoliosis. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the sample is a plasma sample and an OPN protein expression that is higher than 800 nanograms per milliliter of plasma is indicative that the subject is at risk for developing a scoliosis. 
     
     
         26 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the subject is human. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the subject is human female. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the subject is human male. 
     
     
         38 - 49 . (canceled)