Methods for the detection of demyelinating diseases

• US 6,929,922 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2000
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation (Pennsylvania State University)
• Original Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation (Pennsylvania State University)
• Inventors: Hulet, Stanley W., Connor, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chernyshev, Olga N.
• Application Number:
  US09/500,713
• Time in Patent Office: 2,015 Days
• Field of Search: 435/7.2, 435/7.21, 435/72, 435/7, 436/501, 436/503, 436/504, 436/16, 424/9, 600/12, 530/350
• US Class Current: 435/7.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/79 Transferrins, e.g. lactoferrins, ovotransferrins
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/285 Demyelinating diseases; Multipel sclerosis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/564 for pre-existing immune complex or autoimmune disease , i.e. systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid factors or complement components C1-C9
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6893 related to diseases not provided for elsewhere

Abstract

Methods are described for the use of transferrin binding as the basis for a diagnostic assay to identify pathologies consistent with demyelinating diseases including Multiple Sclerosis. In a specific embodiment the evaluation of transferrin binding, in brain tissue, is used in a method for the detection of multiple sclerosis.

Claims

1. A method for the detection of multiple sclerosis comprising:

a) providing;

i) a brain tissue sample, having a periplaque region, from a human suspected of having a demyelinating disease and

ii) transferrin;

b) reacting, in vitro, said brain tissue sample with transferrin; and

c) evaluating said periplaque region for binding with transferrin wherein a finding of transferrin binding, in said periplaque region, confirms the detection of multiple sclerosis in said brain tissue sample.