Combination of biomarkers for detecting and evaluating a hepatic fibrosis

Abstract

The application concerns means for determining the stage of hepatic tissue damage, in particular the hepatic fibrosis score of subjects infected with one or more hepatitis viruses. In particular, the means of the invention involve measuring the levels of expression of selected genes, said selected genes being: SPP1, and at least one gene from among A2M and VIM, and at least one gene from among IL8, CXCL10 and ENG, and optionally, at least one gene from among the list of the following sixteen genes: IL6ST, p14ARF, MMP9, ANGPT2, CXCL11, MMP2, MMP7, S100A4, TIMP1, CHI3L1, COL1A1, CXCL1, CXCL6, IHH, IRF9 and MMP1.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A kit comprising reagents that specifically detect one or more of SPP1, A2M, VIM, IL8, CXCL10, ENG, IL6ST, p14ARF, MMP9, ANGPT2, CXCL11, MMP2, MMP7, S100A4, TIMP1, CHI3L1, COL1A1, CXCL1, CXCL6, IHH, IRF9 and MMP1,
 wherein said reagents are nucleic acids which hybridize specifically to RNA transcribed from SPP1, A2M, VIM, IL8, CXCL10, ENG, IL6ST, p14ARF, MMP9, ANGPT2, CXCL11, MMP2, MMP7, S100A4, TIMP1, CHI3L1, COL1A1, CXCL1, CXCL6, IHH, IRF9 and MMP1 and/or to the cDNA obtained by reverse transcription of said RNAs, or are proteins, polypeptides or peptides which specifically bind to the proteins encoded by SPP1, A2M, VIM, IL8, CXCL10, ENG, IL6ST, p14ARF, MMP9, ANGPT2, CXCL11, MMP2, MMP7, S100A4, TIMP1, CHI3L1, COL1A1, CXCL1, CXCL6, IHH, IRF9 and MMP1, said reagents being optionally attached to a solid support.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein said reagents are amplification primers and/or nucleic acid probes, or are antibodies or fragments of antibodies or protein, polypeptide or peptide aptamers. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein said reagents are attached to a solid support. 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein said solid support is a polymer. 
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the polymer is plastic, glass or silicon. 
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein the solid support is a magnetic or non-magnetic microbead. 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein the solid support is polystyrene.