Inventors:
Patrick C. Kung - Lexington MA
Stephen H. Ip - Sudbury MA
Michael C. Brown - Wayland MA
Linda A. MacKeen - Elkins Park PA
Assignee:
T Cell Diagnostics, Inc. - Cambridge MA
International Classification:
G01N 33543, G01N 33564, G01N 33574, G01N 33577
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to the measurement of soluble T cell growth factor receptors, soluble T cell differentiation antigens, or related soluble molecules or fragments thereof, and the use of such measurements in the diagnosis, staging, and therapy of diseases and disorders. Specific embodiments involve the diagnosis and monitoring of therapy using absolute values of such soluble molecules. Further embodiments involve detecting a change in the levels of such soluble molecules, in the diagnosis and therapy of diseases and disorders. In specific embodiments, measurements of interleukin-2 receptor levels can be made to detect lung cancer, or to stage squamous cell lung carcinoma. In other embodiments, detection of increases in both soluble IL2R and creatinine in the body fluid of a transplant patient can be used to differentially diagnose renal allograft rejection from infection. The invention is also directed to methods for measurement of soluble CD4 antigens, which measurements can be used, in a specific embodiment, to diagnose a state of immune activation, to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, to monitor therapeutic efficacy (e. g.