Biomarkers for joint ailments and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to biomarkers that are associated with joint disorders, and methods of using the biomarkers diagnose joint ailments, monitor the progression of joint ailments, determine when treatments is indicated, and monitor the efficiency of treatment. Also provided are methods for treating joint ailments, which comprise administering chelated trace minerals to animals diagnosed with or predisposed to having joint ailments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating or reducing the severity of lameness due to inflammation in a pig, the method comprising:
 (a) determining the level of a ratio of two biomarkers in a blood sample from the pig, wherein the ratio of two biomarkers is selected from OC/CTX1, P2CP/C2C, and P2CP/CTX2;   (b) comparing the level of the ratio of the pig to a non-lame pig having a gait score of about 0 on a 5 point scale to determine whether the pig is lame, wherein the pig is lame if the level of one or more of the ratios is decreased compared to the non-lame pig;   (c) administering an effective amount of metal chelate to the pig if the pig is determined to be lame, wherein the metal chelate results in the at least one ratio increasing and a reduction of the lameness.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in step (b) the level of a single biomarker selected from C2C, CTX1, CTX2, OC and P2CP may be determined. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises an antibody-based detection method. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal chelate comprises at least one metal ion and at least one ligand, wherein the at least one ligand is an amino acid, hydroxy acid, organic acid, sugar alcohol, protein, protein hydrolysate, polysaccharide, or polynucleic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one metal ion is calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, potassium, sodium, zinc, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one ligand is a compound of Formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         R 1  is methyl or ethyl; and 
         n is 1 or 2. 
       
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein R 1  is methyl and n is 2. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one metal ion is copper, manganese, zinc, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pig is at risk for developing lameness due to inflammation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pig is lame and has a gait score of about 2 or more on a 5 point scale. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal chelate reduces symptoms of lameness compared to administering an inorganic mineral to a comparable pig afflicted with lameness due to inflammation. 
     
     
         12 . A method for treating or preventing lameness due to inflammation in a pig, the method comprising administering a metal chelate to the pig, wherein the metal chelate reduces symptoms of lameness compared to administering an inorganic mineral to a comparable pig afflicted with lameness due to inflammation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the metal chelate comprises at least one metal ion and at least one ligand, wherein the at least one ligand is an amino acid, hydroxy acid, organic acid, sugar alcohol, protein, protein hydrolysate, polysaccharide, or polynucleic acid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one metal ion is calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, potassium, sodium, zinc, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one ligand is a compound of Formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         R 1  is methyl or ethyl; and 
         n is 1 or 2. 
       
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein R 1  is methyl and n is 2. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one metal ion is copper, manganese, zinc, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pig is at risk for developing lameness due to inflammation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pig has been diagnosed as lame. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pig has a gait score of about 2 or more on a 5 point scale.