B LYMPHOCYTE STIMULATOR ASSAYS
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring B cell levels in a subject comprising the steps of determining the serum BAFF levels in a test sample of the subject, determining the serum BAFF levels in a control sample, and calculating the B cell levels in the subject relative to the control, which calculation comprises the step of comparing the serum BAFF level in the test sample to the serum BAFF level in the control sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding Neutrokine-alpha and/or Neutrokine-alphaSV polypeptides, including soluble forms of the extracellular domain. Neutrokine-alpha and/or Neutrokine-alphaSV polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to antibodies or portions thereof that specifically bind Neutrokine-alpha and/or Neutrokine-alphaSV and diagnostic and therapeutic methods using these antibodies. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting immune system-related disorders and therapeutic methods for treating immune system-related disorders using the compositions of the invention.
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Citations
57 Claims
- 1. A method for monitoring B cell levels in a subject comprising the steps of determining the serum BAFF levels in a test sample of the subject, determining the serum BAFF levels in a control sample, and calculating the B cell levels in the subject relative to the control, which calculation comprises the step of comparing the serum BAFF level in the test sample to the serum BAFF level in the control sample.
- 4. A method for treating a subject suffering from a disease comprising the steps of (1) administering a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent to the subject, (2) determining the serum BAFF levels in a test sample of the subject, (3) comparing the B cell level in the test sample relative to a control sample and (4) administering a therapeutically effective amount of the same or different therapeutic agent at a time point dependent on the serum BAFF level in the subject.
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5. A method for treating a subject suffering from a disease comprising the steps of (1) administering a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent to the subject, (2) determining the serum BAFF levels in a test sample of the subject, and (3) administering a therapeutically effective amount of the same or different therapeutic agent at a time point dependent on the serum BAFF level in the test sample.
- 6. A method of maintenance therapy for a subject previously treated with a B cell depletion agent for a disease comprising the step of determining the serum BAFF levels in the subject and treating the subject with a B cell depletion agent at a time point after maximum B cell depletion and while serum BAFF levels are decreasing.
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31. A kit comprising a BAFF binding reagent and a package insert comprising instructions for determining serum BAFF levels using the BAFF binding reagent and for relating serum BAFF levels to B cell levels in the patient after treatment with a B cell depleting or promoting agent.
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32. A method for monitoring B Lymphocyte Stimulator expression in an individual comprising the steps of assaying the level of B Lymphocyte Stimulator expression in a biological sample of the individual using one or more antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind B Lymphocyte Stimulator;
- and comparing the level of B Lymphocyte Stimulator assayed in the biological sample with a standard level of B Lymphocyte Stimulator.
- View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A method for treating an individual suffering from a disease comprising the steps of (1) administering a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent to the individual;
- (2) assaying for the level of B Lymphocyte Stimulator in a biological sample of the subject;
(3) comparing the level of B Lymphocyte Stimulator with a standard B Lymphocyte Stimulator level; and
(4) administering a therapeutically effective amount of the same or a different therapeutic agent to the individual. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
- (2) assaying for the level of B Lymphocyte Stimulator in a biological sample of the subject;
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36. A method for treating an individual suffering from a disease comprising the steps of (1) administering a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent of a treatment regimen to the subject;
- (2) assaying for the level of B Lymphocyte Stimulator in a biological sample of the individual; and
(3) administering a therapeutically effective amount of the same or a different therapeutic agent to the individual.
- (2) assaying for the level of B Lymphocyte Stimulator in a biological sample of the individual; and
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37. A method for treating aberrant B Lymphocyte Stimulator levels in an individual comprising (1) assaying for the level of B Lymphocyte Stimulator in a biological sample of the individual;
- (2) treating the individual with a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that inhibits B cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, or activation;
(3) assaying for the level of B Lymphocyte Stimulator in a biological sample of the individual; and
(4) if B Lymphocyte Stimulator levels as determined in (3) are lower than those in (1), administering a therapeutic agent that inhibits B cell proliferation, differentiation or survival.
- (2) treating the individual with a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that inhibits B cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, or activation;
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57. A kit comprising a B Lymphocyte Stimulator binding reagent and a package insert comprising instructions for determining serum B Lymphocyte Stimulator levels using the B Lymphocyte Stimulator binding reagent and for determining whether aberrant levels of B Lymphocyte Stimulator are present.
Specification