Biomarkers for assessing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and kits for evaluating predicting whether an individual IPF has slowly or rapidly progressive IPF.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method for determining whether a subject has or is at risk of having rapid idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or slow progressive IPF, comprising:
 (a) obtaining a biological sample from said subject, wherein said subject has been identified as having an interstitial lung disease (ILD) based on one or more of a pulmonary function test, a high resolution CT scan (HRCT), or a measure of blood oxygenation;   (b) measuring an expression level of one or more biomarkers associated with said rapid IPF or said slow progressive IPF in said biological sample, wherein one or more biomarkers comprises messenger RNA (mRNA); and   (c) processing said expression level to identify that said subject has or is at risk of having said rapid IPF or said slow progressive IPF.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said ILD is IPF. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein in (c), said subject is identified as having or being at risk of having said rapid IPF. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising treating said subject based at least in part on said subject being identified as having or being at risk of having said rapid IPF. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said treating comprises the subject getting a transplant. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein in (c), said subject is identified as having or being at risk of having said slow progressive IPF. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising treating said subject based at least in part on said subject being identified as having or being at risk of having said slow IPF. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said biological sample comprises nucleated cells. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said nucleated cells are lung cells. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said one or more biomarkers are associated with a co-stimulator signal during T cell activation pathway. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said one or more biomarkers are associated with a bystander B cell activation pathway. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said one or more biomarkers are associated with a T helper cell surface molecules pathway. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said one or more biomarkers are associated with a T cytotoxic cell surface molecules pathway. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said measuring comprises use of a microarray or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said rapid IPF indicates a high risk of mortality within 18 months of analysis. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said slow progressive IPF indicates that said subject will likely live more than 18 months after analysis. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said processing of said expression level comprises processing said expression level with expression levels obtained from a plurality of samples from individuals with said rapid IPF and from individuals with said slow progressive IPF. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein (b) comprises measuring expression levels of a plurality of biomarkers associated with said rapid IPF or said slow progressive IPF in said biological sample, the plurality of biomarkers comprising said one or more biomarkers. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said biological sample comprises peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said biological sample comprises blood serum or plasma.