EP1844158A2 - Biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease - Google Patents

Biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease

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Publication number
EP1844158A2
EP1844158A2 EP05853365A EP05853365A EP1844158A2 EP 1844158 A2 EP1844158 A2 EP 1844158A2 EP 05853365 A EP05853365 A EP 05853365A EP 05853365 A EP05853365 A EP 05853365A EP 1844158 A2 EP1844158 A2 EP 1844158A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
inflammatory bowel
bowel disease
markers
biomarker
biomarkers
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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EP05853365A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1844158A4 (en
Inventor
Chakravarti Shukti
Feng Wu
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Johns Hopkins University
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Johns Hopkins University
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Publication of EP1844158A2 publication Critical patent/EP1844158A2/en
Publication of EP1844158A4 publication Critical patent/EP1844158A4/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12QMEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
    • C12Q1/00Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions
    • C12Q1/68Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions involving nucleic acids
    • C12Q1/6876Nucleic acid products used in the analysis of nucleic acids, e.g. primers or probes
    • C12Q1/6883Nucleic acid products used in the analysis of nucleic acids, e.g. primers or probes for diseases caused by alterations of genetic material
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01NINVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/50Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
    • G01N33/5005Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving human or animal cells
    • G01N33/5091Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving human or animal cells for testing the pathological state of an organism
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12QMEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
    • C12Q2600/00Oligonucleotides characterized by their use
    • C12Q2600/112Disease subtyping, staging or classification
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12QMEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
    • C12Q2600/00Oligonucleotides characterized by their use
    • C12Q2600/158Expression markers
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01NINVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2800/00Detection or diagnosis of diseases
    • G01N2800/06Gastro-intestinal diseases
    • G01N2800/065Bowel diseases, e.g. Crohn, ulcerative colitis, IBS

Definitions

  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are complex, heterogeneous, multifactorial diseases involving genetic, environmental and microbial factors.
  • IBD inflammatory bowel disease
  • Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have similar symptoms, but are very different in the manner in which they affect the digestive tract.
  • UC ulcerative colitis
  • Diagnosis and classification of these diseases are primarily based on patient histories and serologic, radiological, endoscopic and histopathology findings. 6 Early, precise differentiation and diagnosis would directly influence the clinical treatment, patient management and the outcome of such diseases.
  • the present invention provides, for the first time, novel biomarkers that are differentially present in the samples of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) subjects and in the samples of control subjects.
  • the present invention also provides sensitive and quick methods and kits that are useful for determining the inflammatory bowel disease status by measuring these novel markers.
  • the measurement of these markers alone or in combination, in patient samples provides information that a diagnostician can correlate with a probable diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or a negative diagnosis (e.g., normal or disease-free).
  • the markers are characterized by their known protein identities or by their m/z value or molecular weight and/or by characteristics discussed herein.
  • the markers can be resolved in a sample by using a variety of techniques, e.g., microarrays, PCT techniques (e.g., real time, reverse transcriptase, PCR), and fractionation techniques (e.g., chromatographic separation coupled with mass spectrometry, protein capture using immobilized antibodies or by traditional immunoassays).
  • PCT techniques e.g., real time, reverse transcriptase, PCR
  • fractionation techniques e.g., chromatographic separation coupled with mass spectrometry, protein capture using immobilized antibodies or by traditional immunoassays.
  • the present invention provides a method of qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject comprising measuring at least one biomarker in a sample from the subject.
  • the method of resolution involves Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorpti on/Ion ization ("SELDI”) mass spectrometry, in which the surface of the mass spectrometry probe comprises adsorbents that bind the markers.
  • the invention provides biomarkers for inflammatory bowel disease status comprising one or more of the following Markers 1-75 and combinations thereof. These Markers 1-75 are set forth in Table 1-3, which follows and are sometimes referred to herein as biomarkers of Table I or similar designations.
  • the biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of the invention comprises Markers 1-75.
  • markers 1 - 48 are Markers of Crohn's disease (CD).
  • markers 49 - 75 are markers of ulcerative colitis.
  • markers 49-60 are up-regulated in ulcerative colitis (UC).
  • markers 61-75 are down-regulated in ulcerative colitis.
  • markers 1, 2, 4 and 5 are correlate with CD; markers 6 and 10 correlate with CD; markers 17, 18, and 21 correlate with CD; markers 55 and 57 correlate with UC; markers 55 and 57 are up-regulated in UC; markers 69, 74 and 75 and are down- regulated in UC.
  • markers may discriminate between IBD disease state, for example, markers 1, 6, 17, 55 and 69 discriminate between UC and CD; markers 2, 10, 18, 57, and 74 also discriminate between UC and CD; as do markers 4, 6, 21, 55, and 69; and markers 1, 6, and 17; and markers 55 and 69.
  • the biomarkers may be used in combination, for example, markers 1, 2, 4 and 5; markers 6 and 10; markers 17, 18, and 21 ; markers 55 and 57; markers 69, 74 and 75; markers 1, 6, 17, 55 and 69; markers 2, 10, 18, 57, and 74; 4, 6, 21, 55, and 69; markers 1, 6, and 17; and markers 55 and 69.
  • the invention provides, in one aspect, methods for qualifying IBD status in a subject comprising measuring at least one biomarker in a sample from the subject, wherein the biomarker is selected from one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3, and correlating the measurement with inflammatory bowel disease status.
  • the inflammatory bowel disease is ulcerative colitis (UC) and/or Crohn's disease (CD).
  • the method further comprises managing subject treatment based on the status.
  • the managing subject treatment is selected from ordering further diagnostic tests (e.g., colonoscopy and imaging techniques), administering at least one therapeutic agent, surgery, surgery followed or preceded by at least one therapeutic agent, biotherapy, and taking no further action.
  • further diagnostic tests e.g., colonoscopy and imaging techniques
  • the therapeutic agent is selected from one or more of an antibiotic, an antispasmotic, and/or an antidepressant.
  • antibiotics include, for example, rifaximin.
  • Other therapeutic agents include, for example, sulfa drugs, corticosteriods (prednisone), 5-aminosalicylates (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa, or 5-ASA), immunosuppressives (azathioprine, Imuran, Cyclosporine, 6-MP, Purinethol and Methotrexate), anti-TNF (Remicade), anticholinergics, dicyclomine (Bentyl), belladonna/phenobarbital (Donnatal, Antispas, bBarbidonna, donnapine, hyosophen, Spasmolin), hyoscyamine (Levsin, Anaspaz), chlordiazepoxide/clidinium (Librax), anti- diarrheals, diphenoxylate/
  • the method for qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject may further comprise measuring the at least one biomarker after subject management.
  • the inflammatory bowel disease status is selected from one or more of the subject's risk of IBD, the presence or absence of IBD, the type of IBD disease, the stage of IBD and effectiveness of treatment.
  • Methods may further comprise assessing the status of the inflammatory bowel disease, for example, by barium enema, upper GI series, stool culture, blood tests (to determine a white blood cell count or if anemia is present), fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, and/or colonoscopy.
  • the invention provides, in another aspect, methods for differentiating between a diagnosis of UC and CD comprising detecting in a subject sample an amount of at least one biomarker wherein the biomarker is selected from one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3, and correlating the amount with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or noninflammatory bowel disease.
  • Marker 34 Complement component 4 binding protein, ⁇ C4BPB
  • Coagulation factor 11 (thrombin) receptor-like 1 F2RL1 Marker 68 Surfactant, pulmonary-associated protein D SFTPD Marker 69 Solute carrier family 4, sodium bicarbonate cotransporter, member SLC4A4
  • GABA Gamma-aminobuty ⁇ c acid
  • GABRGi Marker 71
  • HPGD Marker 72 TAF5-hke RNA polymerase II, p300/CBP-associated factor TAF SL
  • markers of the invention may be detected, for example, by mass spectrometry according to one embodiment.
  • the markers are detected by SELDI.
  • the marker or markers are detected by capturing the marker on a biochip having a hydrophobic surface and detecting the captured marker by SELDI. Suitable biochips include the IMAC3 ProteinChip® Array and the WCX2 ProteinChip® Array.
  • markers are detected by nucleic acid arrays, e.g., DNA arrays or by PCR methods.
  • the methods for qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject further comprise generating data on immobilized subject samples on a biochip, by subjecting the biochip to laser ionization and detecting intensity of signal for mass/charge ratio; and transforming the data into computer readable form; executing an algorithm that classifies the data according to user input parameters, for detecting signals that represent biomarkers present in inflammatory bowel disease subjects and are lacking in noninflammatory bowel disease subject controls.
  • one or more of the biomarkers are detected using laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, comprising providing a probe adapted for use with a mass spectrometer comprising an adsorbent attached thereto; contacting the subject sample with the adsorbent; desorbing and ionizing the biomarker or biomarkers from the probe; and detecting the desorbed/ionized markers with the mass spectrometer.
  • least one or more protein biomarkers are detected using immunoassays.
  • the sample from the subject is one or more of colon biopsy material, intestinal biopsy material, fecal material, blood, blood plasma, serum, urine, cells, organs, seminal fluids, bone marrow, saliva, stool, a cellular extract, a tissue sample, a tissue biopsy, and cerebrospinal fluid.
  • the methods for qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject further comprise measuring the amount of each biomarker in the subject sample and determining the ratio of the amounts between the markers.
  • the measuring is selected from detecting the presence or absence of the biomarkers(s), quantifying the amount of marker(s), and qualifying the type of biomarker.
  • at least two biomarkers are measured.
  • at least three biomarkers are measured.
  • at least four biomarkers are measured.
  • at least one UC and at least one CD biomarker is measured.
  • the protein biomarkers are measured by one or more of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), ESI-MS/MS, ESI-MS/(MS) n , matrix- assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF- MS), desorption/ionization on silicon (DIOS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS), APCI-MS/MS, APCI-(MS).sup.n, atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry (APPI-MS), APPI-MS/MS, and APPI-(MS) n , quadrupole mass spectrometry, fourier transform mass spectrometry,
  • kits for example, for aiding the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or the diagnosis of the subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the kits may suitably include an adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent retains one or more biomarkers selected from one or more of the markers of Tables 1 - 3, and written instructions for use of the kit for detection of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the kit for aiding the diagnosis of the subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease comprises an adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent retains one or more biomarkers selected from each of Markers 1 - 48 and Markers 49-75, and written instructions for use of the kit for detection of the IBD or a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease, e.g., UC or CD.
  • Kits may also comprise instructions provide for contacting a test sample with the adsorbent and detecting one or more biomarkers retained by the adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent is, for example, an antibody, single or double stranded oligonucleotide, amino acid, protein, peptide or fragments thereof.
  • the adsorbent is, for example, an antibody, single or double stranded oligonucleotide, amino acid, protein, peptide or fragments thereof.
  • the one or more protein biomarkers is detected using mass spectrometry, immunoassays, or PCR.
  • the measuring is selected from detecting the presence or absence of the biomarkers(s), quantifying the amount of marker(s), and qualifying the type of biomarker.
  • the invention provides methods for identifying a candidate compound for treating inflammatory bowel disease comprising contacting one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3 with a test compound; and determining whether the test compound interacts with the biomarker, wherein a compound that interacts with the biomarker is identified as a candidate compound for treating inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the invention also provides methods of treating inflammatory bowel disease comprising administering to a subject suffering from or at risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease a therapeutically effective amount of a compound capable of modulating the expression or activity of one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3.
  • the invention provides methods of treating a condition in a subject comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which modulates the expression or activity of one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3.
  • the compound are selected from the group consisting of enzyme inhibitor, cytotoxic drug, cytokin, chemokine, antibodies, a DNA molecule, an RNA molecule, a small molecule, a peptide, and a peptidomimetic.
  • Classes of drugs include, antiinflammatory, antibiotic, antiviral, antidepressant, anticonvulsant therapeutics.
  • the invention provides methods for modulating the concentration of a biomarker, wherein the biomarker is one or more of the biomarkers listed in Tables 1 - 3.
  • the method comprises contacting a cell with a test compound, measuring at least one biomarker, wherein the biomarker is selected from one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3, and correlating the measurement with a determination of efficacy.
  • the invention also provides, in one aspect, a method of identifying a biomarker comprising obtaining an endoscopic sample from a subject, isolating nucleic acid from the sample, analyzing the nucleic acid and correlating the results.
  • the results may be analyzed against a control database of IBD samples and/or controls.
  • the invention also provides methods of determining the inflammatory bowel disease status of a subject, comprising (a) obtaining a biomarker profile from a sample taken from the subject; and (b) comparing the subject's biomarker profile to a reference biomarker profile obtained from a reference population, wherein the comparison is capable of classifying the subject as belonging to or not belonging to the reference population; wherein the subject's biomarker profile and the reference biomarker profile comprise one or more markers listed in Tables 1 - 3.
  • the comparison of the biomarker profiles can determine inflammatory bowel disease status in the subject with an accuracy of at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or approaching 100%.
  • the sample is fractionated by one or more of chemical extraction partitioning, ion exchange chromatography, reverse phase liquid chromatography, isoelectric focusing, one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), two- dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-P AGE), thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and any combination thereof.
  • chemical extraction partitioning ion exchange chromatography, reverse phase liquid chromatography, isoelectric focusing, one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), two- dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-P AGE), thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and any combination thereof.
  • the measuring step comprises quantifying the amount of marker(s) in the sample. In other methods, the measuring step comprises qualifying the type of biomarker in the sample.
  • the biomarkes may be sufficiently characterized by, e.g., mass and by affinity characteristics. It is noted that molecular weight and binding properties are characteristic properties of the markers and not limitations on means of detection or isolation. Furthermore, using the methods described herein or other methods known in the art, the absolute identity of markers can be determined.
  • the present invention also relates to biomarkers designated as Markers 1-75.
  • Protein markers of the invention can be characterized in one or more of several respects. In particular, in one aspect, these markers are characterized by molecular weights under the conditions specified herein, particularly as determined by mass spectral analysis. In another aspect, the markers can be characterized by features of the markers' mass spectral signature such as size (including area) and/or shape of the markers' spectral peaks, features including proximity, size and shape of neighboring peaks, etc. In yet another aspect, the markers can be characterized by affinity binding characteristics, particularly ability to binding to cation- exchange and/or hydrophobic surfaces. In preferred embodiments, markers of the invention may be characterized by each of such aspects, i.e. molecular weight, mass spectral signature and cation and/or hydrophobic absorbent binding.
  • the present invention provides for a method for detecting and diagnosing (including e.g., differentiating between) different subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease, wherein the method comprises using a biochip array for detecting at least one biomarker in a subject sample; evaluating at least one biomarker in a subject sample, and correlating the detection of one or more protein biomarkers with a inflammatory bowel disease subtype, e.g., UC and CD.
  • a biochip array for detecting at least one biomarker in a subject sample
  • evaluating at least one biomarker in a subject sample e.g., UC and CD.
  • the biomarkers of the invention may be detected in samples of blood, blood plasma, serum, urine, tissue, cells, organs, seminal fluids, bone marrow, colon biopsies, intestinal biopsies, and cerebrospinal fluid.
  • Biochip arrays useful in the invention include protein and nucleic acid arrays.
  • One or more markers are captured on the biochip array and subjected to laser ionization to detect the molecular weight of the markers. Analysis of the markers is, for example, by molecular weight of the one or more markers against a threshold intensity that is normalized against total ion current.
  • the step of correlating the measurement of the biomarkers with inflammatory bowel disease status is performed by a software classification algorithm.
  • data is generated on immobilized subject samples on a biochip array, by subjecting the biochip array to laser ionization and detecting intensity of signal for mass/charge ratio; and transforming the data into computer readable form; and executing an algorithm that classifies the data according to user input parameters, for detecting signals that represent markers present in inflammatory bowel disease subjects and are lacking in non-inflammatory bowel disease subject controls.
  • the biochip surfaces are, for example, ionic, anionic, hydrophobic; comprised of immobilized nickel or copper ions;, comprised of a mixture of positive and negative ions; and/or comprised of one or more antibodies, single or double stranded nucleic acids, proteins, peptides or fragments thereof, amino acid probes, or phage display libraries.
  • one or more of the markers are measured using laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, comprising providing a probe adapted for use with a mass spectrometer comprising an adsorbent attached thereto, and contacting the subject sample with the adsorbent, and desorbing and ionizing the marker or markers from the probe and detecting the deionized/ionized markers with the mass spectrometer.
  • the laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry comprises: providing a substrate comprising an adsorbent attached thereto; contacting the subject sample with the adsorbent; placing the substrate on a probe adapted for use with a mass spectrometer comprising an adsorbent attached thereto; and desorbing and ionizing the marker or markers from the probe and detecting the desorbed/ionized marker or markers with the mass spectrometer.
  • the adsorbent can for example be, hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ionic or metal chelate adsorbent, such as nickel or copper, or an antibody, single- or double stranded oligonucleotide, amino acid, protein, peptide or fragments thereof.
  • a process for purification of a biomarker comprising fractioning a sample comprising one or more protein biomarkers by size-exclusion chromatography and collecting a fraction that includes the one or more biomarker; and/or fractionating a sample comprising the one or more biomarkers by anion exchange chromatography and collecting a fraction that includes the one or more biomarkers. Fractionation is monitored for purity on normal phase and immobilized nickel arrays.
  • Generating data on immobilized marker fractions on an array is accomplished by subjecting the array to laser ionization and detecting intensity of signal for mass/charge ratio; and transforming the data into computer readable form; and executing an algorithm that classifies the data according to user input parameters, for detecting signals that represent markers present in inflammatory bowel disease subjects and are lacking in non-inflammatory bowel disease subject controls.
  • Preferably fractions are subjected to gel electrophoresis and correlated with data generated by mass spectrometry.
  • gel bands representative of potential markers are excised and subjected to enzymatic treatment and are applied to biochip arrays for peptide mapping.
  • biomarkers are selected from gel bands representing Markers 1-75 described herein.
  • Purified proteins for detection of inflammatory bowel disease and/or screening and aiding in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and/or generation of antibodies for further diagnostic assays are provided.
  • the invention provides methods for identifying compounds (e.g., antibodies, nucleic acid molecules (e.g., DNA, RNA), small molecules, peptides, and/or peptidomimetics) capable of treating inflammatory bowel disease comprising contacting at least one or more of a biomarker selected from Markers 1-75, and combinations thereof with a test compound; and determining whether the test compound interacts with, binds to, or modulates the biomarker, wherein a compound that interacts with, binds to, or modulates the biomarker is identifies as a compound capable of treated inflammatory bowel disease.
  • compounds e.g., antibodies, nucleic acid molecules (e.g., DNA, RNA), small molecules, peptides, and/or peptidomimetics
  • the invention provides methods of treating inflammatory bowel disease comprising administering to a subject suffering from or at risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease a therapeutically effective amount of a compound (e.g., an antibody, nucleic acid molecule (e.g., DNA, RNA), small molecule, peptide, and/or peptidomimetic) capable of modulating the expression or activity of one or more of the Biomarkes 1-75.
  • a compound e.g., an antibody, nucleic acid molecule (e.g., DNA, RNA), small molecule, peptide, and/or peptidomimetic
  • the invention provides methods of determining the inflammatory bowel disease status of a subject, comprising (a) obtaining a biomarker profile from a sample taken from the subject; and (b) comparing the subject's biomarker profile to a reference biomarker profile obtained from a reference population, wherein the comparison is capable of classifying the subject as belonging to or not belonging to the reference population; wherein the subject's biomarker profile and the reference biomarker profile comprise one or more markers listed in Tables 1 - 3.
  • Methods of the invention may further comprise repeating the method at least once, wherein the subject's biomarker profile is obtained from a separate sample taken each time the method is repeated.
  • samples from the subject are taken about 24, 30, 48, 60, and/or 72 hours apart.
  • the comparison of the biomarker profiles can determine inflammatory bowel disease status in the subject with an accuracy of at least about 60% to about 99% .
  • the reference biomarker profile is obtained from a population comprising a single subject, at least two subjects, and at least 20 subjects.
  • the methods of the present invention provide and solve the need for methods of accurately assessing, i.e., diagnostically, prognostically, and therapeutically, IBD, including UC and CD.
  • Figure 1 depicts gene expression signals from CD-76-aff-l (X axis) and CD-76-aff-2 (Y axis) biopsies from one affected area. Each point represents the expression value of a probe set (defining a gene) in log-scale in the two biopsies.
  • a probe set with a "Present” call in both arrays (red), “Absent” in both (yellow), and "Present” in either one of the two arrays (blue) is shown.
  • the diagonal lines indicate fold change of 2, 3, and 10 in expression levels between two arrays. For genes expressed differentially between the two arrays, change in expression must be > 2 fold, expression > 100 arbitrary units, and "Present call" in one sample.
  • Figure 2 depicts multidimensional scaling (MDS) of 32 samples.
  • Figure 3 depicts hierarchical clustering across all arrays, of the top 50 genes whose expression patterns correlate with the distribution of samples in the MDS plot of Figure 2.
  • the inflammation score (*) for each biopsy taken from Tables 1 - 3 are shown on the top.
  • Genes with similar expression levels across samples are clustered vertically and samples with similar gene expression patterns are grouped horizontally. Genes expressed above mean (red), mean (black) and below mean (green) are as shown. To derive this set of genes, each sample was assigned to one of four groups, depending on which quadrant it occupied in the MDS map, and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) on the expression values for each gene was calculated. Genes with large F-statistics have strong quadrant specific differences in expression. The top 50 genes with the highest F-statistic scores are shown.
  • Figure 4 is a model showing distinct pathogenic events in UC and CD. Gene symbols are taken from Tables 2, 3 and Figure 4. Gene up regulations and down regulations are indicated by arrows. We speculate that in response to microbial and other environmental stimuli, CD shows a deregulated immune response that entails acute phase response, antigen presentation and macrophage activation. In contrast early events in UC suggest impaired detoxification, overload of unfolded proteins and endoplasmic reticulum stress.
  • Figure 5 depicts histology of endoscopic biopsies of colon from a healthy control (A), CD-76, a patient with Crohn's disease (B and C), and UC-55, a patient with ulcerative colitis (D). (B) is taken from unaffected mucosa showing essentially normal colon structures.
  • CD76 a view of CD76 affected biopsy, showing significant inflammatory infiltration in the mucosa and submucosa, cryptitis with crypt abscesses, and basal lymphoplasmacytosis (inflammation grade: ++).
  • D UC-55 affected demonstrates crypt distortion and dropout, and lamina limbal fibrosis (fibrosis grade: ++).
  • MM muscularis mucosa
  • SM submucosa. H&E staining, original magnification 4Ox.
  • Figure 6 depicts the expressions of selected genes that were quantified by real-time RT-PCR.
  • the relative expression value of a gene was normalized to that of GAPD.
  • the samples include unaffected (un) and affected (aff) sample from six CD cases (CD-33, 51, 53, 58, 59 and 76), five UC samples (UC-32, 35, 38, 44 and 55) and four from normal controls (N65, N66, N69 and N79). Each point represents an individual sample.
  • CXCLl chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1
  • DMBTl deleted in malignant brain tumors 1
  • ADM adrenomedullin
  • STAT3 signal transducer and activator of transcription 3
  • ASMT acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase
  • IFI35 interferon-induced protein 35
  • PSME2 proteasome activator subunit 2
  • PSMB8 proteasome subunit, beta type, 8.
  • the horizontal bar indicates the mean value of each group.
  • the present invention provides biomarkers generated from comparison of protein profiles from subjects diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and from subjects without known neoplastic diseases, using the mass spectrometry techniques.
  • the invention provides that these biomarkers, used individually, or preferably in combination with other biomarkers from this group or with other diagnostic tests, provide a novel method of determining inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject.
  • the present invention presents markers that are differentially present in samples of inflammatory bowel disease subjects and control subjects, and the application of this discovery in methods and kits for determining inflammatory bowel disease status.
  • These protein markers are found in samples from inflammatory bowel disease subjects at levels that are different than the levels in samples from subject in whom human IBD is undetectable. Accordingly, the amount of one or more markers found in a test sample compared to a control, or the presence or absence of one or more markers in the test sample provides useful information regarding the inflammatory bowel disease status of the patient.
  • the present invention also relates to a method for identification of biomarkers for IBD, with high specificity and sensitivity.
  • a panel of biomarkers were identified that are associated with inflammatory bowel disease status.
  • IBS Inflammatory bowel disease
  • IBS refers to a functional disorder of the colon (large intestine) that causes crampy abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea.
  • IBS is classified as a functional gastrointestinal disorder because no structural or biochemical cause can be found to explain the symptoms.
  • the most common symptoms of IBD include, abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, rectal bleeding, skin and eye irritations, and diarrhea. Intervals of active disease, or 'flares', and periods of remission characterize IBD.
  • the colon shows no evidence of disease such as ulcers or inflammation. Therefore, IBS preferably diagnosed only after other possible digestive disorders and diseases have been ruled out. IBS is often misdiagnosed or misnamed as colitis, mucous colitis, spastic colon, irritable bowel disease or spastic bowel (colon).
  • Ultracerative colitis refers to a disease that is a form of IBD and causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the top layers of the lining of the large intestine.
  • Common symptoms of UC include bloody diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain. There can also be symptoms outside the digestive system which are known as extra-intestinal symptoms.
  • Fever is a characteristic of the inflammatory process that takes place in UC and there are several extra-intestinal symptoms that are not directly related to the inflammation in the colon and include eye inflammation, joint pains, skin rashes or lesions, and mouth ulcers.
  • UC is diagnosed, for example, by stool culture, blood tests, fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and barium enema.
  • sulfasalazine Azulfadine
  • mesalamine Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa
  • osalazine Dipentum
  • corticosteroids prednisone
  • Surgery may also be used to treat UC, usually after all available drug treatments have failed.
  • Surgery for UC always involves a total colectomy, or a complete removal of the large intestine (colon). Resection, or removing only the diseased section of the colon, is not an option in UC, because the disease will only re-occur in the portion of the colon that is left.
  • CD ulcerative colitis
  • a fissure is a tear or ulcer in the lining of the anal canal and symptoms include painful bowel movements, bright red blood in toilet bowel or on paper, anal lump, and swollen skin tag.
  • Acute fissures may be treated with Weg baths, fiber to create softer stools, stool softeners, topical hydrocortisone, zinc oxide, petroleum jelly and topical anesthetics.
  • a chronic fissure may need more aggressive treatment including surgery.
  • a fistula is an abnormal tunnel connecting two body cavities or a body cavity to the skin. Approximately 30% of people with Crohn's Disease develop fistulas. Treatments include antibiotics, immunosuppresants, Remicade, liquid nutrition to replace solid food and surgery.
  • Treatments for CD include, for example, sulfasalazine (Azulfadine), mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa), balsalazide disodium (colazal®), azathioprine (Imuran), 6-MP (Purinethol), cyclosporine, methotrexate, infliximab
  • tests may be used by physicians to diagnose CD, including, barium enema, upper GI series, stool culture, blood tests to determine a white blood cell count or if anemia is present, fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and other tests may be used to rule out other potential diagnoses.
  • inflammatory bowel disease status refers to the status of the disease in the patient.
  • types of inflammatory bowel disease statuses include, but are not limited to, the subject's risk of IBD, including colorectal UC or CD, the presence or absence of disease (e.g., IBD, UC or CD), the stage of disease in a patient (e.g., IBD, UC or CD), and the effectiveness of treatment of disease.
  • Other statuses and degrees of each status are known in the art.
  • Gas phase ion spectrometer refers to an apparatus that detects gas phase ions.
  • Gas phase ion spectrometers include an ion source that supplies gas phase ions.
  • Gas phase ion spectrometers include, for example, mass spectrometers, ion mobility spectrometers, and total ion current measuring devices.
  • Gas phase ion spectrometry refers to the use of a gas phase ion spectrometer to detect gas phase ions.
  • Mass spectrometer refers to a gas phase ion spectrometer that measures a parameter that can be translated into mass-to-charge ratios of gas phase ions. Mass spectrometers generally include an ion source and a mass analyzer. Examples of mass spectrometers are time-of-flight, magnetic sector, quadrupole filter, ion trap, ion cyclotron resonance, electrostatic sector analyzer and hybrids of these. “Mass spectrometry” refers to the use of a mass spectrometer to detect gas phase ions.
  • Laser desorption mass spectrometer refers to a mass spectrometer that uses laser energy as a means to desorb, volatilize, and ionize an analyte.
  • Tandem mass spectrometer refers to any mass spectrometer that is capable of performing two successive stages of m/z-based discrimination or measurement of ions, including ions in an ion mixture.
  • the phrase includes mass spectrometers having two mass analyzers that are capable of performing two successive stages of m/z-based discrimination or measurement of ions tandem-in-space.
  • the phrase further includes mass spectrometers having a single mass analyzer that is capable of performing two successive stages of m/z- based discrimination or measurement of ions tandem-in-time.
  • Mass analyzer refers to a sub-assembly of a mass spectrometer that comprises means for measuring a parameter that can be translated into mass-to-charge ratios of gas phase ions.
  • the mass analyzer comprises an ion optic assembly, a flight tube and an ion detector.
  • Ion source refers to a sub-assembly of a gas phase ion spectrometer that provides gas phase ions.
  • the ion source provides ions through a desorption/ionization process.
  • Such embodiments generally comprise a probe interface that positionally engages a probe in an interrogatable relationship to a source of ionizing energy (e.g., a laser desorption/ionization source) and in concurrent communication at atmospheric or subatmospheric pressure with a detector of a gas phase ion spectrometer.
  • a source of ionizing energy e.g., a laser desorption/ionization source
  • ionizing energy for desorbing/ionizing an analyte from a solid phase include, for example: (1) laser energy; (2) fast atoms (used in fast atom bombardment); (3) high energy particles generated via beta decay of radionucleides (used in plasma desorption); and (4) primary ions generating secondary ions (used in secondary ion mass spectrometry).
  • the preferred form of ionizing energy for solid phase analytes is a laser (used in laser desorption/ionization), in particular, nitrogen lasers, Nd- Yag lasers and other pulsed laser sources. "Fluence" refers to the energy delivered per unit area of interrogated image.
  • a high fluence source such as a laser, will deliver about 1 mJ / mm2 to 50 mJ / mm2.
  • a sample is placed on the surface of a probe, the probe is engaged with the probe interface and the probe surface is struck with the ionizing energy. The energy desorbs analyte molecules from the surface into the gas phase and ionizes them.
  • Solid support refers to a solid material which can be derivatized with, or otherwise attached to, a capture reagent.
  • Exemplary solid supports include probes, microtiter plates and chromatographic resins.
  • Probe in the context of this invention refers to a device adapted to engage a probe interface of a gas phase ion spectrometer (e.g., a mass spectrometer) and to present an analyte to ionizing energy for ionization and introduction into a gas phase ion spectrometer, such as a mass spectrometer.
  • a “probe” will generally comprise a solid substrate (either flexible or rigid) comprising a sample presenting surface on which an analyte is presented to the source of ionizing energy.
  • “Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization” or “SELDI” refers to a method of desorption/ionization gas phase ion spectrometry (e.g., mass spectrometry) in which the analyte is captured on the surface of a SELDI probe that engages the probe interface of the gas phase ion spectrometer.
  • SELDI MS the gas phase ion spectrometer is a mass spectrometer.
  • SELDI technology is described in, e.g., U.S. patent 5,719,060 (Hutchens and Yip) and U.S. patent 6,225,047 (Hutchens and Yip).
  • SEEC Surface-Enhanced Affinity Capture
  • SELDI probe an absorbent surface
  • Adsorbent surface refers to a surface to which is bound an adsorbent (also called a “capture reagent” or an
  • an adsorbent is any material capable of binding an analyte (e.g., a target polypeptide or nucleic acid).
  • Chrographic adsorbent refers to a material typically used in chromatography.
  • Chromatographic adsorbents include, for example, ion exchange materials, metal chelators (e.g., nitriloacetic acid or iminodiacetic acid), immobilized metal chelates, hydrophobic interaction adsorbents, hydrophilic interaction adsorbents, dyes, simple biomolecules (e.g., nucleotides, amino acids, simple sugars and fatty acids) and mixed mode adsorbents (e.g., hydrophobic attraction/electrostatic repulsion adsorbents).
  • metal chelators e.g., nitriloacetic acid or iminodiacetic acid
  • immobilized metal chelates e.g., immobilized metal chelates
  • hydrophobic interaction adsorbents e.g., hydrophilic interaction adsorbents
  • dyes e.g., simple biomolecules (e.g., nucleotides, amino acids, simple sugars and
  • Biospecific adsorbent refers an adsorbent comprising a biomolecule, e.g., a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an aptamer), a polypeptide, a polysaccharide, a lipid, a steroid or a conjugate of these (e.g., a glycoprotein, a lipoprotein, a glycolipid, a nucleic acid (e.g., DNA)-protein conjugate).
  • the biospecific adsorbent can be a macromolecular structure such as a multiprotein complex, a biological membrane or a virus. Examples of biospecific adsorbents are antibodies, receptor proteins and nucleic acids.
  • Biospecific adsorbents typically have higher specificity for a target analyte than chromatographic adsorbents. Further examples of adsorbents for use in SELDI can be found in U.S. Patent 6,225,047 (Hutchens and Yip, "Use of retentate chromatography to generate difference maps," May 1 , 2001).
  • a SEAC probe is provided as a pre-activated surface which can be modified to provide an adsorbent of choice.
  • certain probes are provided with a reactive moiety that is capable of binding a biological molecule through a covalent bond.
  • Epoxide and carbodiimidizole are useful reactive moieties to covalently bind biospecific adsorbents such as antibodies or cellular receptors.
  • Adsorption refers to detectable non-covalent binding of an analyte to an adsorbent or capture reagent.
  • SEND Surface-Enhanced Neat Desorption
  • SEND probe. "Energy absorbing molecules”
  • EAM Energy absorbing molecules
  • the phrase includes molecules used in MALDl , frequently referred to as “matrix”, and explicitly includes cinnamic acid derivatives, sinapinic acid (“SPA”), cyano-hydroxy-cinnamic acid (“CHCA”) and dihydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, hydroxyacetophenone derivatives, as well as others. It also includes EAMs used in SELDI. SEND is further described in United States patent 5,719,060 and United States patent application 60/408,255, filed September 4, 2002 (Kitagawa, "Monomers And Polymers Having Energy Absorbing Moieties Of Use In Desorption/Ionization Of Analytes").
  • SEPAR Surface-Enhanced Photolabile Attachment and Release
  • SELDI Surface-Enhanced Photolabile Attachment and Release
  • SEPAR is a version of SELDI that involves the use of probes having moieties attached to the surface that can covalently bind an analyte, and then release the analyte through breaking a photolabile bond in the moiety after exposure to light, e.g., laser light.
  • SEPAR is further described in United States Patent 5,719,060.
  • Eluant or “wash solution” refers to an agent, typically a solution, which is used to affect or modify adsorption of an analyte to an adsorbent surface and/or remove unbound materials from the surface.
  • the elution characteristics of an eluant can depend on, for example, pH, ionic strength, hydrophobicity, degree of chaotropism, detergent strength and temperature.
  • Analyte refers to any component of a sample that is desired to be detected. The term can refer to a single component or a plurality of components in the sample.
  • the "complexity" of a sample adsorbed to an adsorption surface of an affinity capture probe means the number of different protein species that are adsorbed.
  • Molecular binding partners and “specific binding partners” refer to pairs of molecules, typically pairs of biomolecules that exhibit specific binding. Molecular binding partners include, without limitation, receptor and ligand, antibody and antigen, biotin and avidin, and biotin and streptavidin.
  • Monitoring refers to recording changes in a continuously varying parameter.
  • Biochip refers to a solid substrate having a generally planar surface to which an adsorbent is attached. Frequently, the surface of the biochip comprises a plurality of addressable locations, each of which location has the adsorbent bound there. Biochips can be adapted to engage a probe interface, and therefore, function as probes.
  • Protein biochip refers to a biochip adapted for the capture of polypeptides. Many protein biochips are described in the art. These include, for example, protein biochips produced by Ciphergen Biosystems (Fremont, CA), Packard BioScience Company (Meriden CT), Zyomyx (Hayward, CA) and Phylos (Lexington, MA).
  • Protein biochips produced by Ciphergen Biosystems comprise surfaces having chromatographic or biospecific adsorbents attached thereto at addressable locations. Biochips are further described in: WO 00/66265 (Rich et al., "Probes for a Gas Phase Ion Spectrometer," November 9, 2000); WO 00/67293 (Beecher et al., "Sample Holder with Hydrophobic Coating for Gas Phase Mass Spectrometer," November 9, 2000); U.S. patent application US20030032043A1 (Pohl and Papanu, "Latex Based Adsorbent Chip," July 16, 2002) and U.S. patent application 60/350,1 10 (Um et al., "Hydrophobic Surface Chip,” November 8, 2001).
  • analytes can be detected by a variety of detection methods selected from, for example, a gas phase ion spectrometry method, an optical method, an electrochemical method, atomic force microscopy and a radio frequency method.
  • Gas phase ion spectrometry methods are described herein. Of particular interest is the use of mass spectrometry, and in particular, SELDI.
  • Optical methods include, for example, detection of fluorescence, luminescence, chemiluminescence, absorbance, reflectance, transmittance, birefringence or refractive index (e.g., surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry, a resonant mirror method, a grating coupler waveguide method or interferometry).
  • Optical methods include microscopy (both confocal and non-confocal), imaging methods and non-imaging methods.
  • Immunoassays in various formats e.g., ELISA
  • Electrochemical methods include voltametry and amperometry methods.
  • Radio frequency methods include multipolar resonance spectroscopy.
  • Biomarker or “biomarker” in the context of the present invention refer to a polypeptide (of a particular apparent molecular weight)or nucleic acid, which is differentially present in a sample taken from subjects having human inflammatory bowel disease as compared to a comparable sample taken from control subjects (e.g., a person with a negative diagnosis or undetectable inflammatory bowel disease, normal or healthy subject).
  • biomarker is used interchangeably with the term “marker.”
  • the biomarkers are identified by molecular mass in Daltons, and include the masses centered around the identified molecular masses for each marker.
  • measuring means methods which include detecting the presence or absence of marker(s) in the sample, quantifying the amount of marker(s) in the sample, and/or qualifying the type of biomarker. Measuring can be accomplished by methods known in the art and those further described herein, including but not limited to microarray analysis (with Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) software), SELDI and immunoassay. Any suitable methods can be used to detect and measure one or more of the markers described herein. These methods include, without limitation, mass spectrometry (e.g. , laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry), fluorescence (e.g. sandwich immunoassay), surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. "Detect” refers to identifying the presence, absence or amount of the object to be detected.
  • mass spectrometry e.g. , laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry
  • fluorescence e.g. sandwich immunoassay
  • surface plasmon resonance
  • a marker refers to differences in the quantity and/or the frequency of a marker present in a sample taken from subjects having human IBD as compared to a control subject. For example, some markers described herein are present at an elevated level in samples of subjects compared to samples from control subjects. In contrast, other markers described herein are present at a decreased level in samples of inflammatory bowel disease subjects compared to samples from control subjects. Furthermore, a marker can be a polypeptide, which is detected at a higher frequency or at a lower frequency in samples of human IBD subjects compared to samples of control subjects.
  • a marker can be a polypeptide, which is detected at a higher frequency or at a lower frequency in samples of unaffected tissue from human IBD subjects compared to samples affected tissue from human IBD subjects.
  • a marker can be a polypeptide, which is detected at a higher frequency or at a lower frequency in samples of human unaffected tissue from IBD subjects compared to samples of control subjects.
  • a marker can be a polypeptide, which is detected at a higher frequency or at a lower frequency in samples of human affected tissue from IBD subjects compared to samples of control subjects.
  • a marker can be differentially present in terms of quantity, frequency or both.
  • Affected tissue refers to tissue from and IBD subject that is grossly diseased tissue (tissue that is inflamed or shows fibrosis.
  • Unaffected tissue refers to a tissue from an IBD subject that is from a portion of tissue that does not have gross disease present, for example tissue that is about 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 or more cm from grossly diseased tissue.
  • a polypeptide is differentially present between two samples if the amount of the polypeptide in one sample is statistically significantly different from the amount of the polypeptide in the other sample.
  • a polypeptide is differentially present between the two samples if it is present at least about 120%, at least about 130%, at least about 150%, at least about 180%, at least about 200%, at least about 300%, at least about 500%, at least about 700%, at least about 900%, or at least about 1000% greater than it is present in the other sample, or if it is detectable in one sample and not detectable in the other.
  • a polypeptide is differentially present between two sets of samples if the frequency of detecting the polypeptide in the IBD subjects' samples is statistically significantly higher or lower than in the control samples.
  • a polypeptide is differentially present between the two sets of samples if it is detected at least about 120%, at least about 130%, at least about 150%, at least about 180%, at least about 200%, at least about 300%, at least about 500%, at least about 700%, at least about 900%, or at least about 1000% more frequently or less frequently observed in one set of samples than the other set of samples.
  • Diagnostic means identifying the presence or nature of a pathologic condition, i.e., inflammatory bowel disease. Diagnostic methods differ in their sensitivity and specificity.
  • the "sensitivity” of a diagnostic assay is the percentage of diseased individuals who test positive (percent of "true positives”). Diseased individuals not detected by the assay are “false negatives.” Subjects who are not diseased and who test negative in the assay, are termed “true negatives.”
  • the "specificity" of a diagnostic assay is 1 minus the false positive rate, where the "false positive” rate is defined as the proportion of those without the disease who test positive. While a particular diagnostic method may not provide a definitive diagnosis of a condition, it suffices if the method provides a positive indication that aids in diagnosis.
  • test amount of a marker refers to an amount of a marker present in a sample being tested.
  • a test amount can be either in absolute amount (e.g., ⁇ g/ml) or a relative amount (e.g. , relative intensity of signals).
  • a “diagnostic amount” of a marker refers to an amount of a marker in a subject's sample that is consistent with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • a diagnostic amount can be either in absolute amount (e.g., ⁇ g/ml) or a relative amount (e.g., relative intensity of signals).
  • a "control amount" of a marker can be any amount or a range of amount, which is to be compared against a test amount of a marker.
  • a control amount of a marker can be the amount of a marker in a person without inflammatory bowel disease.
  • a control amount can be either in absolute amount (e.g., ⁇ g/ml) or a relative amount (e.g., relative intensity of signals).
  • the term "sensitivity" is the percentage of subjects with a particular disease.
  • the biomarkers of the invention have a sensitivity of about 80.0%-98.6%, and preferably a sensitivity of 85%, 87.5%, 90%, 92.5%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99% or approaching 100%.
  • the term "specificity" is the percentage of subjects correctly identified as having a particular disease i.e., normal or healthy subjects. For example, the specificity is calculated as the number of subjects with a particular disease as compared to non-IBD subjects (e.g., normal healthy subjects).
  • the specificity of the assays described herein may range from about 80% to 100%. Preferably the specificity is about 90%, 95%, or 100%.
  • polypeptide refers to a polymer of amino acid residues.
  • the terms apply to amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acid residue is an analog or mimetic of a corresponding naturally occurring amino acid, as well as to naturally occurring amino acid polymers.
  • Polypeptides can be modified, e.g., by the addition of carbohydrate residues to form glycoproteins.
  • polypeptide include glycoproteins, as well as non- glycoproteins.
  • immunoassay is an assay that uses an antibody to specifically bind an antigen (e.g., a marker). The immunoassay is characterized by the use of specific binding properties of a particular antibody to isolate, target, and/or quantify the antigen.
  • Antibody refers to a polypeptide ligand substantially encoded by an immunoglobulin gene or immunoglobulin genes, or fragments thereof, which specifically binds and recognizes an epitope ⁇ e.g., an antigen).
  • the recognized immunoglobulin genes include the kappa and lambda light chain constant region genes, the alpha, gamma, delta, epsilon and mu heavy chain constant region genes, and the myriad immunoglobulin variable region genes.
  • Antibodies exist, e.g., as intact immunoglobulins or as a number of well- characterized fragments produced by digestion with various peptidases. This includes, e.g., Fab 1 ' and F(ab) ! ' 2 fragments.
  • antibody also includes antibody fragments either produced by the modification of whole antibodies or those synthesized de novo using recombinant DNA methodologies. It also includes polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, chimeric antibodies, humanized antibodies, or single chain antibodies. "Fc" portion of an antibody refers to that portion of an immunoglobulin heavy chain that comprises one or more heavy chain constant region domains, CHi, CH 2 and CH 3 , but does not include the heavy chain variable region.
  • the specified antibodies bind to a particular protein at least two times the background and do not substantially bind in a significant amount to other proteins present in the sample.
  • Specific binding to an antibody under such conditions may require an antibody that is selected for its specificity for a particular protein.
  • polyclonal antibodies raised to marker "X" from specific species such as rat, mouse, or human can be selected to obtain only those polyclonal antibodies that are specifically immunoreactive with marker "X” and not with other proteins, except for polymorphic variants and alleles of marker "X". This selection may be achieved by subtracting out antibodies that cross-react with marker "X" molecules from other species.
  • a variety of immunoassay formats may be used to select antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a particular protein.
  • solid-phase ELISA immunoassays are routinely used to select antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a protein ⁇ see, e.g., Harlow & Lane, Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual (1988), for a description of immunoassay formats and conditions that can be used to determine specific immunoreactivity).
  • a specific or selective reaction will be at least twice background signal or noise and more typically more than 10 to 100 times background.
  • Managing subject treatment refers to the behavior of the clinician or physician subsequent to the determination of IBD status. For example, if the result of the methods of the present invention is inconclusive or there is reason that confirmation of status is necessary, the physician may order more tests. Alternatively, if the status indicates that treatment is appropriate, the physician may schedule the patient for treatment, e.g., surgery, administer one or more therapeutic agents or radiation. Likewise, if the status is negative, e.g., late stage inflammatory bowel disease or if the status is acute, no further action may be warranted. Furthermore, if the results show that treatment has been successful, a maintenance therapy or no further management may be necessary.
  • CD biomarkers include the proteins or their encoding nucleic acids for the following pathways or cellular processes: acute phase and innate immune response(IL-l and TNF ⁇ mediated induction of NF- ⁇ B), immune response, apoptosis, inflammatory cell recruitment pathways, inflammatory response (IL]B 1 S100A8), antigen presentation (MHC class II immunoproteasome members PSME2 and PSMB8, MHC class II ATP-binding antigen peptide transporter TAPl, HLA-DMA and UBD of MHC class I), inflammatory cell chemotaxis (IL8, CXCLl, CXCL3), apoptosis (CASPl, CASPlO), macrophage activation (ASMT and interferon-regulated genes IFITMl, IFITM3, ISG20, IFB 5, SPIlO), leukocyte protection (LILRB encoding a receptor for class I MHC antigens), recruitment of inflammatory cells, acute phase response (ADM, STATl, STAT3, and protea
  • CD Crohn's disease patients often require surgery due to obstruction, when disease may be well established and gene expression patterns rather static.
  • Profiling of endoscopic biopsies provide the opportunity to interrogate all stages of disease.
  • Clinical sub grouping of CD is based on anatomic site of involvement (ileum only, colon only, or upper small bowel and colon) 12 and disease behavior (inflammatory, stricturing, or fistulizing). 13 ' 14
  • Pinch biopsies are collected during endoscopy for routine evaluation of disease activity by histology ' 5
  • single endoscopic pinch biopsies were used from nine colonic Crohn's disease cases with mild to severe inflammation, five ulcerative colitis cases and four healthy controls.
  • expression patterns for a biopsy from an affected and one from an unaffected area were obtained.
  • Multidimensional scaling of the expression patterns distinguished IBD from healthy individuals, CD from UC, and also unaffected from healthy controls.
  • Crohn's colitis harbors some phenotypic overlaps with ulcerative colitis, the expression profiles identify a distinct set of differentially expressed genes, and distinct pathophysiologies, for each disease.
  • UC Biomarkers include the proteins or their encoding nucleic acids for the following pathways or cellular processes: endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway members, protein- trafficking pathway members, and detoxification and cell growth pathway members.
  • UC biomarkers include the proteins or their encoding nucleic acids for the following pathways or cellular processes: up-regulations of complement cascade activation (BF and C4A), growth regulatory (MIA) and apoptosis (ATM) pathways, detoxification
  • BF and C4A up-regulations of complement cascade activation
  • MIA growth regulatory
  • ATM apoptosis
  • UC patterns are quite dynamic showing multiple gene expression changes (REGlA, LCN2, NOS2, NNMT, for example).
  • IBD biomarkers include both the UC and CD biomarkers (see Tables 1 - 3) as well as the following genes and nucleic acids and proteins encoded by the following genes, as well as fragments and variants thereof: CASPlO at 2q33-34, HLA-DMA, TAPl, UBD, PSMB8 at 6p21.3, and PSME2 at 14ql 1.2.
  • the sequences of these biomarkers are appended to the specification, as well as exemplary primers for amplifying the biomarkers.
  • Nine genes are elevated in most CD and UC affected profiles and most likely contribute towards separation of IBD from normal controls in the MDS plot.
  • genes include several chemokine ligands produced by activated monocytes and neutrophils, indicative of an immune/inflammation process and seem to correlate well with the inflammation scoring of the samples by histology (e.g., Group 3) Certain overlaps evident between the CD and the UC over expressed gene signatures
  • biomarkers for IBD include the proteins or their encoding nucleic acids for the following pathways or cellular processes: apoptosis -regulation (CASPlO, LILRB, 1 GNGTl (7q21.3)), antigen-presenting genes (PSME2), immunoproteasome for generating MHC class I binding antigenic peptides (IBD3, HLA-DMA, TAPl, UBD and PSMB8) , and Wnt-signaling (PRKACB (Ip36.1 , IBD7)).
  • apoptosis -regulation (CASPlO, LILRB, 1 GNGTl (7q21.3)
  • PSME2 antigen-presenting genes
  • IBD3, HLA-DMA, TAPl, UBD and PSMB8 immunoproteasome for generating MHC class I binding antigenic peptides
  • PRKACB Wnt-signaling
  • Corresponding proteins or fragments of proteins for these biomarkers may be represented as intensity peaks in SELDI (surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization) protein chip/mass spectra with molecular masses centered around the values.
  • Markers 1-75 also may be characterized based on affinity for an adsorbent, particularly binding to a cation-exchange or hydrophobic surface under the conditions specified in the Examples, which follow.
  • biomarkers are examples of biomarkers, as determined by identity, identified by the methods of the invention and serve merely as an illustrative example and are not meant to limit the invention in any way.
  • a major advantage of identification of these markers is their high specificity and ability to differentiate between different inflammatory bowel disease states (e.g., between UC and CD).
  • the present invention is based upon the discovery of protein markers that are differentially present in samples of human inflammatory bowel disease subjects and control subjects, and the application of this discovery in methods and kits for aiding a human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis.
  • Some of these protein markers are found at an elevated level and/or more frequently in samples from human inflammatory bowel disease subjects compared to a control (e.g., subjects with diseases other than inflammatory bowel disease). Accordingly, the amount of one or more markers found in a test sample compared to a control, or the mere detection of one or more markers in the test sample provides useful information regarding probability of whether a subject being tested has inflammatory bowel disease or not, and/or whether a subject being tested has a particular inflammatory bowel disease subtype or not.
  • the protein of the present invention have a number of other uses.
  • the markers can be used to screen for compounds that modulate the expression of the markers in vitro or in vivo, which compounds in turn may be useful in treating or preventing human inflammatory bowel disease in subjects.
  • markers can be used to monitor responses to certain treatments of human inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the markers can be used in heredity studies. For instance, certain markers may be genetically linked. This can be determined by, e.g., analyzing samples from a population of human inflammatory bowel disease subjects whose families have a history of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the results can then be compared with data obtained from, e.g., inflammatory bowel disease subjects whose families do not have a history of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the markers that are genetically linked may be used as a tool to determine if a subject whose family has a history of inflammatory bowel disease is pre-disposed to having inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the invention provides methods for detecting markers which are differentially present in the samples of an inflammatory bowel disease patient and a control (e.g., subjects in non-inflammatory bowel disease subjects).
  • the markers can be detected in a number of biological samples.
  • the sample is preferably a biological biopsy sample. Any suitable methods can be used to detect one or more of the markers described herein.
  • mass spectrometry e.g., laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry
  • fluorescence e.g. sandwich immunoassay
  • surface plasmon resonance e.g., ellipsometry
  • atomic force microscopy e.g., atomic force microscopy
  • Methods may further include, by one or more of microarrays, PCR methods, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), ESI-MS/MS, ESI-MS/(MS) n , matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS), desorption/ionization on silicon (DIOS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS), APCI-MS/MS, APCI-(MS) 11 , atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry (APPI-MS), APPI-MS/MS, and APPI-(MS).sub.n, quadrupole mass spectrometry, four
  • a sample such as for example, serum from a subject or patient, is immobilized on a biochip.
  • the biochip comprises a functionalized, cross-linked polymer in the form of a hydrogel physically attached to the surface of the biochip or covalently attached through a silane to the surface of the biochip.
  • any biochip which can bind samples from subjects can be used.
  • the surfaces of the biochips are comprised of, for example, hydrophilic adsorbent to capture hydrophilic proteins (e.g.
  • carboimidizole functional groups that can react with groups on proteins for covalent binding
  • epoxide functional groups for covalent binding with proteins e.g. antibodies, receptors, lectins, heparin, Protein A, biotin/streptavidin and the like
  • anionic exchange groups e.g. antibodies, receptors, lectins, heparin, Protein A, biotin/streptavidin and the like
  • anionic exchange groups e.g. antibodies, receptors, lectins, heparin, Protein A, biotin/streptavidin and the like
  • anionic exchange groups e.g. antibodies, receptors, lectins, heparin, Protein A, biotin/streptavidin and the like
  • anionic exchange groups e.g. antibodies, receptors, lectins, heparin, Protein A, biotin/streptavidin and the like
  • anionic exchange groups e.g. antibodies, receptors,
  • samples are pre-fractionated prior to immobilization as discussed below.
  • Analytes or samples captured on the surface of a biochip can be detected by any method known in the art. This includes, for example, mass spectrometry, fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy.
  • Mass spectrometry, and particularly SELDI mass spectrometry is a particularly useful method for detection of the biomarkers of this invention.
  • Immobilized samples or analytes are preferably subjected to laser ionization and the intensity of signal for mass/charge ratio is detected.
  • the data obtained from the mass/charge ratio signal is transformed into data which is read by any type of computer.
  • An algorithm is executed by the computer user that classifies the data according to user input parameters for detecting signals that represent biomarkers present in, for example, inflammatory bowel disease subjects and are lacking in non-inflammatory bowel disease subject controls.
  • the biomarkers are most preferably identified by their molecular weights.
  • Samples are collected from subjects to establish inflammatory bowel disease status.
  • the subjects may be subjects who have been determined to have a high risk of inflammatory bowel disease based on their family history, a previous treatment, subjects with physical symptoms known to be associated with inflammatory bowel disease, subjects identified through screening assays (e.g., sigmoidoscopy) or rectal digital exam or rigid or flexible colonoscopy or CT scan or other x-ray techniques.
  • Other subjects include subjects who have inflammatory bowel disease and the test is being used to determine the effectiveness of therapy or treatment they are receiving.
  • subjects could include healthy people who are having a test as part of a routine examination, or to establish baseline levels of the biomarkers.
  • Samples may be collected from subjects who had been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and received treatment to eliminate the inflammatory bowel disease, or perhaps are in remission. TYPES OF SAMPLE AND PREPARATION OF THE SAMPLE
  • the markers can be measured in different types of biological samples.
  • the sample is preferably a biological tissue or fluid sample.
  • biological tissue sample is a colon or intestinal biopsy sample, from for example a endoscopic examination.
  • a biological fluid sample useful in this invention include blood, blood serum, plasma, vaginal secretions, urine, tears, saliva, urine, tissue, cells, organs, seminal fluids, bone marrow, cerebrospinal fluid, etc. Because the markers are found in intestinal and/or colon tissue, these are preferred sample sources for embodiments of the invention.
  • Nucleic acids may be obtained from the samples in many ways known to one of skill in the art. For example, extraction methods, including for example, solvent extraction, affinity purification and centrifugation. Selective precipitation can also purify nucleic acids. Chromatography methods may also be utilized including, gel filtration, ion exchange, selective adsorption, or affinity binding.
  • the nucleic acids may be, for example, RNA, DNA or may be synthesized into cDNA.
  • the nucleic acids may be detected using microarray techniques that are well known in the art, for example, Affymetrix arrays followed by multidimensional scaling techniques. See R. Ekins and F.W. Chu, Microarrays: their origins and applications. Trends in Biotechnology, 1999, 17, 217-218; D. D. Shoemaker, et al., Experimental annotation of the human genome using microarray technology, Nature Volume 409 Number 6822 Page 922 - 927 (2001) and US Patent 5,750,015.
  • the markers can be resolved in a sample by using a variety of techniques, e.g., nucleic acid chips, PCR, real time PCR, reverse transcriptase PCR, real time reverse transcriptase PCR, in situ PCR, chromatographic separation coupled with mass spectrometry, protein capture using immobilized antibodies or by traditional immunoassays.
  • a variety of techniques e.g., nucleic acid chips, PCR, real time PCR, reverse transcriptase PCR, real time reverse transcriptase PCR, in situ PCR, chromatographic separation coupled with mass spectrometry, protein capture using immobilized antibodies or by traditional immunoassays.
  • Biomarker expression may also be by PCR methods, including for example, real time PCR. See for example, U.S. Patents 5,723,591; 5,801 ,155 and 6,084,102 and Higuchi, 1992 and 1993.
  • PCR assays may be done, for example, in a multi-well plate formats or in chips, such as the BioTrove OpenArrayTM Chips (BioTrove, Woburn, MA). If desired, the sample can be prepared to enhance detectability of the markers.
  • a blood serum sample from the subject can be preferably fractionated by, e.g., Cibacron blue agarose chromatography and single stranded DNA affinity chromatography, anion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography (e.g., with antibodies) and the like.
  • the method of fractionation depends on the type of detection method used. Any method that enriches for the protein of interest can be used.
  • preparation involves fractionation of the sample and collection of fractions determined to contain the biomarkers. Methods of pre-fractionation include, for example, size exclusion chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, heparin chromatography, affinity chromatography, sequential extraction, gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography.
  • the analytes also may be modified prior to detection. These methods are useful to simplify the sample for further analysis. For example, it can be useful to remove high abundance proteins, such as albumin, from blood before analysis.
  • a sample can be pre-fractionated according to size of proteins in a sample using size exclusion chromatography.
  • a size selection spin column is used for a biological sample wherein the amount of sample available is small.
  • a K30 spin column available from Princeton Separation, Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc., etc. can be used.
  • fraction 1 the first fraction that is eluted from the column
  • fraction 2 has a lower percentage of high molecular weight proteins
  • fraction 3 has even a lower percentage of high molecular weight proteins
  • fraction 4 has the lowest amount of large proteins; and so on.
  • Each fraction can then be analyzed by gas phase ion spectrometry for the detection of markers.
  • a sample can be pre-fractionated by anion exchange chromatography.
  • Anion exchange chromatography allows pre-fractionation of the proteins in a sample roughly according to their charge characteristics.
  • a Q anion-exchange resin can be used ⁇ e.g , Q HyperD F, Biosepra), and a sample can be sequentially eluted with eluants having different pH's.
  • Anion exchange chromatography allows separation of biomolecules in a sample that are more negatively charged from other types of biomolecules. Proteins that are eluted with an eluant having a high pH is likely to be weakly negatively charged, and a fraction that is eluted with an eluant having a low pH is likely to be strongly negatively charged.
  • anion exchange chromatography separates proteins according to their binding characteristics.
  • a sample can be pre-fractionated by heparin chromatography.
  • Heparin chromatography allows pre-fractionation of the markers in a sample also on the basis of affinity interaction with heparin and charge characteristics.
  • Heparin, a sulfated mucopolysaccharide will bind markers with positively charged moieties and a sample can be sequentially eluted with eluants having different pH's or salt concentrations. Markers eluted with an eluant having a low pH are more likely to be weakly positively charged. Markers eluted with an eluant having a high pH are more likely to be strongly positively charged.
  • heparin chromatography also reduces the complexity of a sample and separates markers according to their binding characteristics.
  • a sample can be pre-fractionated by removing proteins that are present in a high quantity or that may interfere with the detection of markers in a sample.
  • serum albumin is present in a high quantity and may obscure the analysis of markers.
  • a blood serum sample can be pre- fractionated by removing serum albumin.
  • Serum albumin can be removed using a substrate that comprises adsorbents that specifically bind serum albumin.
  • a column which comprises, e.g. , Cibacron blue agarose (which has a high affinity for serum albumin) or anti-serum albumin antibodies can be used.
  • a sample can be pre-fractionated by isolating proteins that have a specific characteristic, e.g. are glycosylated.
  • a blood serum sample can be fractionated by passing the sample over a lectin chromatography column (which has a high affinity for sugars). Glycosylated proteins will bind to the lectin column and non- glycosylated proteins will pass through the flow through. Glycosylated proteins are then eluted from the lectin column with an eluant containing a sugar, e.g., N-acetyl-glucosamine and are available for further analysis.
  • a sugar e.g., N-acetyl-glucosamine
  • affinity adsorbents which are suitable for pre-fractionating blood serum samples.
  • An example of one other type of affinity chromatography available to pre- fractionate a sample is a single stranded DNA spin column. These columns bind proteins which are basic or positively charged. Bound proteins are then eluted from the column using eluants containing denaturants or high pH.
  • a sample can be fractionated using a sequential extraction protocol.
  • sequential extraction a sample is exposed to a series of adsorbents to extract different types of biomolecules from a sample. For example, a sample is applied to a first adsorbent to extract certain proteins, and an eluant containing non-adsorbent proteins (i.e., proteins that did not bind to the first adsorbent) is collected. Then, the fraction is exposed to a second adsorbent. This further extracts various proteins from the fraction. This second fraction is then exposed to a third adsorbent, and so on. Any suitable materials and methods can be used to perform sequential extraction of a sample.
  • a series of spin columns comprising different adsorbents can be used.
  • a multi-well comprising different adsorbents at its bottom can be used.
  • sequential extraction can be performed on a probe adapted for use in a gas phase ion spectrometer, wherein the probe surface comprises adsorbents for binding biomolecules.
  • the sample is applied to a first adsorbent on the probe, which is subsequently washed with an eluant. Markers that do not bind to the first adsorbent is removed with an eluant.
  • the markers that are in the fraction can be applied to a second adsorbent on the probe, and so forth.
  • biomolecules in a sample can be separated by high- resolution electrophoresis, e.g., one or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.
  • a fraction containing a marker can be isolated and further analyzed by gas phase ion spectrometry.
  • two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is used to generate two-dimensional array of spots of biomolecules, including one or more markers. See, e.g., Jungblut and Thiede, Mass Spectr. Rev. 16: 145-162 (1997).
  • the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis can be performed using methods known in the art. See, e.g., Guider ed., Methods In Enzymology vol. 182.
  • biomolecules in a sample are separated by, e.g., isoelectric focusing, during which biomolecules in a sample are separated in a pH gradient until they reach a spot where their net charge is zero (i.e., isoelectric point).
  • This first separation step results in one-dimensional array of biomolecules.
  • the biomolecules in one- dimensional array is further separated using a technique generally distinct from that used in the first separation step.
  • biomolecules separated by isoelectric focusing are further separated using a polyacrylamide gel, such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE).
  • SDS-PAGE gel allows further separation based on molecular mass of biomolecules.
  • two-dimensional gel electrophoresis can separate chemically different biomolecules in the molecular mass range from 1000-200,000 Da within complex mixtures.
  • Biomolecules in the two-dimensional array can be detected using any suitable methods known in the art.
  • biomolecules in a gel can be labeled or stained (e.g., Coomassie Blue or silver staining).
  • the spot can be is further analyzed by gas phase ion spectrometry.
  • spots can be excised from the gel and analyzed by gas phase ion spectrometry.
  • the gel containing biomolecules can be transferred to an inert membrane by applying an electric field. Then a spot on the membrane that approximately corresponds to the molecular weight of a marker can be analyzed by gas phase ion spectrometry.
  • the spots can be analyzed using any suitable techniques, such as MALDI or SELDI (e.g., using ProteinChip " array) as described in detail below.
  • cleaving reagents such as proteases (e.g., trypsin).
  • the digestion of biomolecules into small fragments provides a mass fingerprint of the biomolecules in the spot, which can be used to determine the identity of markers if desired.
  • HPLC high performance liquid chromatography
  • HPLC instruments typically consist of a reservoir of mobile phase, a pump, an injector, a separation column, and a detector. Biomolecules in a sample are separated by injecting an aliquot of the sample onto the column. Different biomolecules in the mixture pass through the column at different rates due to differences in their partitioning behavior between the mobile liquid phase and the stationary phase. A fraction that corresponds to the molecular weight and/or physical properties of one or more markers can be collected. The fraction can then be analyzed by gas phase ion spectrometry to detect markers. For example, the spots can be analyzed using either MALDI or SELDI (e.g., using ProteinChip array) as described in detail below.
  • a marker can be modified before analysis to improve its resolution or to determine its identity.
  • the markers may be subject to proteolytic digestion before analysis. Any protease can be used. Proteases, such as trypsin, that are likely to cleave the markers into a discrete number of fragments are particularly useful. The fragments that result from digestion function as a fingerprint for the markers, thereby enabling their detection indirectly. This is particularly useful where there are markers with similar molecular masses that might be confused for the marker in question. Also, proteolytic fragmentation is useful for high molecular weight markers because smaller markers are more easily resolved by mass spectrometry.
  • biomolecules can be modified to improve detection resolution.
  • neuraminidase can be used to remove terminal sialic acid residues from glycoproteins to improve binding to an anionic adsorbent (e.g., cationic exchange ProteinChip ® arrays) and to improve detection resolution.
  • the markers can be modified by the attachment of a tag of particular molecular weight that specifically bind to molecular markers, further distinguishing them.
  • the identity of the markers can be further determined by matching the physical and chemical characteristics of the modified markers in a protein database (e.g., SwissProt).
  • any suitable method can be used to measure a marker or markers in a sample.
  • markers can be detected and/or measured by a variety of detection methods including for example, gas phase ion spectrometry methods, optical methods, electrochemical methods, atomic force microscopy, radio frequency methods, surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy.
  • SELDI Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization
  • SELDI refers to a method of desorption/ionization gas phase ion spectrometry (e.g., mass spectrometry) in which the analyte is captured on the surface of a SELDI probe that engages the probe interface.
  • gas phase ion spectrometer is a mass spectrometer. SELDI technology is described in more detail above and as follows.
  • a laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometer is used in embodiments of the invention.
  • a substrate or a probe comprising markers is introduced into an inlet system.
  • the markers are desorbed and ionized into the gas phase by laser from the ionization source.
  • the ions generated are collected by an ion optic assembly, and then in a time-of-flight mass analyzer, ions are accelerated through a short high voltage field and let drift into a high vacuum chamber. At the far end of the high vacuum chamber, the accelerated ions strike a sensitive detector surface at a different time.
  • the elapsed time between ion formation and ion detector impact can be used to identify the presence or absence of markers of specific mass to charge ratio.
  • Markers on the substrate surface can be desorbed and ionized using gas phase ion spectrometry. Any suitable gas phase ion spectrometers can be used as long as it allows markers on the substrate to be resolved. Preferably, gas phase ion spectrometers allow quantitation of markers.
  • a gas phase ion spectrometer is a mass spectrometer.
  • a substrate or a probe comprising markers on its surface is introduced into an inlet system of the mass spectrometer.
  • the markers are then desorbed by a desorption source such as a laser, fast atom bombardment, high energy plasma, electrospray ionization, thermospray ionization, liquid secondary ion MS, field desorption, etc.
  • the generated desorbed, volatilized species consist of preformed ions or neutrals which are ionized as a direct consequence of the desorption event.
  • Generated ions are collected by an ion optic assembly, and then a mass analyzer disperses and analyzes the passing ions. The ions exiting the mass analyzer are detected by a detector.
  • the detector then translates information of the detected ions into mass-to-charge ratios. Detection of the presence of markers or other substances will typically involve detection of signal intensity. This, in turn, can reflect the quantity and character of markers bound to the substrate.
  • a mass spectrometer e.g., a desorption source, a mass analyzer, a detector, etc.
  • a laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometer is used in embodiments of the invention.
  • a substrate or a probe comprising markers is introduced into an inlet system.
  • the markers are desorbed and ionized into the gas phase by laser from the ionization source.
  • the ions generated are collected by an ion optic assembly, and then in a time-of-flight mass analyzer, ions are accelerated through a short high voltage field and let drift into a high vacuum chamber. At the far end of the high vacuum chamber, the accelerated ions strike a sensitive detector surface at a different time. Since the time-of-flight is a function of the mass of the ions, the elapsed time between ion formation and ion detector impact can be used to identify the presence or absence of markers of specific mass to charge ratio. In another embodiment, an ion mobility spectrometer can be used to detect markers.
  • ion mobility spectrometry is based on different mobility of ions. Specifically, ions of a sample produced by ionization move at different rates, due to their difference in, e.g. , mass, charge, or shape, through a tube under the influence of an electric field. The ions (typically in the form of a current) are registered at the detector which can then be used to identify a marker or other substances in a sample.
  • ions of a sample produced by ionization move at different rates, due to their difference in, e.g. , mass, charge, or shape, through a tube under the influence of an electric field.
  • the ions typically in the form of a current
  • One advantage of ion mobility spectrometry is that it can operate at atmospheric pressure.
  • an immunoassay can be used to detect and analyze markers in a sample. This method comprises: (a) providing an antibody that specifically binds to a marker; (b) contacting a sample with the antibody; and (c) detecting the presence of a complex of the antibody bound to the marker in the sample.
  • An immunoassay is an assay that uses an antibody to specifically bind an antigen (e.g., a marker).
  • the immunoassay is characterized by the use of specific binding properties of a particular antibody to isolate, target, and/or quantify the antigen.
  • the phrase "specifically (or selectively) binds" to an antibody or “specifically (or selectively) immunoreactive with,” when referring to a protein or peptide, refers to a binding reaction that is determinative of the presence of the protein in a heterogeneous population of proteins and other biologies.
  • the specified antibodies bind to a particular protein at least two times the background and do not substantially bind in a significant amount to other proteins present in the sample.
  • Specific binding to an antibody under such conditions may require an antibody that is selected for its specificity for a particular protein.
  • polyclonal antibodies raised to a marker from specific species such as rat, mouse, or human can be selected to obtain only those polyclonal antibodies that are specifically immunoreactive with that marker and not with other proteins, except for polymorphic variants and alleles of the marker. This selection may be achieved by subtracting out antibodies that cross-react with the marker molecules from other species.
  • antibodies that specifically bind to a marker can be prepared using any suitable methods known in the art. See, e.g., Coligan, Current Protocols in Immunology (1991); Harlow & Lane, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual (1988); Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies : Principles and Practice (2d ed. 1986); and Kohler & Milstein, Nature 256:495-497 (1975).
  • Such techniques include, but are not limited to, antibody preparation by selection of antibodies from libraries of recombinant antibodies in phage or similar vectors, as well as preparation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies by immunizing rabbits or mice ⁇ see, e.g., Huse et ai, Science 246: 1275-1281 (1989); Ward et ah, Nature 341 :544-546 (1989)).
  • a specific or selective reaction will be at least twice background signal or noise and more typically more than 10 to 100 times background.
  • a sample obtained from a subject can be contacted with the antibody that specifically binds the marker.
  • the antibody can be fixed to a solid support to facilitate washing and subsequent isolation of the complex, prior to contacting the antibody with a sample.
  • solid supports include glass or plastic in the form of, e.g., a microtiter plate, a stick, a bead, or a microbead.
  • Antibodies can also be attached to a probe substrate or ProteinChip ® array described above.
  • the sample is preferably a biological fluid sample taken from a subject.
  • biological fluid samples include blood, serum, plasma, nipple aspirate, urine, tears, saliva etc.
  • the biological fluid comprises blood serum.
  • the sample can be diluted with a suitable eluant before contacting the sample to the antibody.
  • the mixture is washed and the antibody- marker complex formed can be detected.
  • This detection reagent may be, e.g., a second antibody which is labeled with a detectable label.
  • detectable labels include magnetic beads ⁇ e.g., DYNABEADS T ), fluorescent dyes, radiolabels, enzymes ⁇ e.g., horse radish peroxide, alkaline phosphatase and others commonly used in an ELISA), and colorimetric labels such as colloidal gold or colored glass or plastic beads.
  • the marker in the sample can be detected using an indirect assay, wherein, for example, a second, labeled antibody is used to detect bound marker-specific antibody, and/or in a competition or inhibition assay wherein, for example, a monoclonal antibody which binds to a distinct epitope of the marker is incubated simultaneously with the mixture.
  • an indirect assay wherein, for example, a second, labeled antibody is used to detect bound marker-specific antibody, and/or in a competition or inhibition assay wherein, for example, a monoclonal antibody which binds to a distinct epitope of the marker is incubated simultaneously with the mixture.
  • Methods for measuring the amount of, or presence of, antibody-marker complex include, for example, detection of fluorescence, luminescence, chemiluminescence, absorbance, reflectance, transmittance, birefringence or refractive index (e.g., surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry, a resonant mirror method, a grating coupler waveguide method or interferometry).
  • Optical methods include microscopy (both confocal and non- confocal), imaging methods and non-imaging methods.
  • Electrochemical methods include voltametry and amperometry methods.
  • Radio frequency methods include multipolar resonance spectroscopy. Methods for performing these assays are readily known in the art.
  • Useful assays include, for example, an enzyme immune assay (EIA) such as en2yme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a radioimmune assay (RIA), a Western blot assay, or a slot blot assay.
  • EIA enzyme immune assay
  • ELISA en2yme-linked immunosorbent assay
  • RIA radioimmune assay
  • Western blot assay e.g., Western blot assay, or a slot blot assay.
  • incubation and/or washing steps may be required after each combination of reagents. Incubation steps can vary from about 5 seconds to several hours, preferably from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours. However, the incubation time will depend upon the assay format, marker, volume of solution, concentrations and the like. Usually the assays will be carried out at ambient temperature, although they can be conducted over a range of temperatures, such as 10 0 C to 40 0 C.
  • Immunoassays can be used to determine presence or absence of a marker in a sample as well as the quantity of a marker in a sample.
  • the amount of an antibody-marker complex can be determined by comparing to a standard.
  • a standard can be, e.g., a known compound or another protein known to be present in a sample.
  • the test amount of marker need not be measured in absolute units, as long as the unit of measurement can be compared to a control.
  • the methods for detecting these markers in a sample have many applications. For example, one or more markers can be measured to aid humaninflammatory bowel disease diagnosis or prognosis. In another example, the methods for detection of the markers can be used to monitor responses in a subject to inflammatory bowel disease treatment. In another example, the methods for detecting markers can be used to assay for and to identify compounds that modulate expression of these markers in vivo or in vitro. In a preferred example, the biomarkers are used to differentiate between the different stages of tumor progression, thus aiding in determining appropriate treatment and extent of metastasis of the tumor. USE OF MODIFIED FORMS OF A BIOMARKER
  • modified protein cluster The collection of proteins including a specific protein and all modified forms of it is referred to herein as a "protein cluster.”
  • Modified forms of any biomarker of this invention (including any of Markers I through XIII) also may be used, themselves, as biomarkers. In certain cases the modified forms may exhibit better discriminatory power in diagnosis than the specific forms set forth herein.
  • Modified forms of a biomarker including any of Markers 1 -75 can be initially detected by any methodology that can detect and distinguish the modified from the biomarker.
  • a preferred method for initial detection involves first capturing the biomarker and modified forms of it, e.g., with biospecific capture reagents, and then detecting the captured proteins by mass spectrometry. More specifically, the proteins are captured using biospecific capture reagents, such as antibodies, aptamers or Affibodies that recognize the biomarker and modified forms of it. This method also will also result in the capture of protein interactors that are bound to the proteins or that are otherwise recognized by antibodies and that, themselves, can be biomarkers. Preferably, the biospecific capture reagents are bound to a solid phase.
  • the captured proteins can be detected by SELDI mass spectrometry or by eluting the proteins from the capture reagent and detecting the eluted proteins by traditional MALDI or by SELDI.
  • SELDI mass spectrometry is especially attractive because it can distinguish and quantify modified forms of a protein based on mass and without the need for labeling.
  • the biospecific capture reagent is bound to a solid phase, such as a bead, a plate, a membrane or a chip.
  • a solid phase such as a bead, a plate, a membrane or a chip.
  • Methods of coupling biomolecules, such as antibodies, to a solid phase are well known in the art. They can employ, for example, bifunctional linking agents, or the solid phase can be derivatized with a reactive group, such as an epoxide or an imidizole, that will bind the molecule on contact.
  • Biospecific capture reagents against different target proteins can be mixed in the same place, or they can be attached to solid phases in different physical or addressable locations. For example, one can load multiple columns with derivatized beads, each column able to capture a single protein cluster.
  • antibody-derivatized bead-based technologies such as xMAP technology of Luminex (Austin, TX) can be used to detect the protein clusters.
  • the biospecific capture reagents must be specifically directed toward the members of a cluster in order to differentiate them.
  • the surfaces of biochips can be derivatized with the capture reagents directed against protein clusters either in the same location or in physically different addressable locations.
  • the modified form can be used as a biomarker in any of the methods of this invention.
  • detection of the modified from can be accomplished by any specific detection methodology including affinity capture followed by mass spectrometry, or traditional immunoassay directed specifically the modified form.
  • Immunoassay requires biospecific capture reagents, such as antibodies, to capture the analytes.
  • the assay must be designed to specifically distinguish protein and modified forms of protein. This can be done, for example, by employing a sandwich assay in which one antibody captures more than one form and second, distinctly labeled antibodies, specifically bind, and provide distinct detection of, the various forms.
  • Antibodies can be produced by immunizing animals with the biomolecules.
  • This invention contemplates traditional immunoassays including, for example, sandwich immunoassays including ELISA or fluorescence-based immunoassays, as well as other enzyme immunoassays.
  • the methods for detecting these markers in a sample have many applications. For example, one or more markers can be measured to aid human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis or prognosis. In another example, the methods for detection of the markers can be used to monitor responses in a subject to inflammatory bowel disease treatment. In another example, the methods for detecting markers can be used to assay for and to identify compounds that modulate expression of these markers in vivo or in vitro.
  • Non-inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory bowel disease status may be by the detection of one or more of the Markers listed in Tables 1 - 3 or the Markers described as proteins or pathways for IBD, UC, or CD.
  • an exemplary marker that may independently discriminate between colorectal and non-colorectal status is Markers 1- 75.
  • Combinations of markers are also useful in the methods of the invention for the discrimination of on-inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory bowel disease status, for example, Markers may also be used to discriminate or distinguish or diagnose between UC and CD and between unaffected and affected tissue of a UC and/or CD subject.
  • Markers may be detected, determined, monitored in a sample by molecular biological methods, including, arrays (nucleic acid, protein), PCR methods (real-time, reverse transcriptase, PCR).
  • Detection of markers can be analyzed using any suitable means, including arrays.
  • Nucleic acid arrays may be analyzed using software, for example, Applied Maths, Belgium.
  • GenExploreTM 2-way cluster analysis, principal component analysis, discriminant analysis, self-organizing maps; BioDiscovery, Inc., Los Angeles, California (ImaGeneTM, special image processing and data extraction software, powered by MatLab®; GeneSight: hierarchical clustering, artificial neural network (SOM?), principal component analysis, time series; AutoGeneTM; CloneTrackerTM); GeneData AG (Basel, Switzerland); Molecular Pattern Recognition web site at MIT's Whitehead Genome Center; Rosetta Inpharmatics, Kirkland, Washington.
  • Detection of markers can be analyzed using any suitable means.
  • data generated, for example, by desorption is analyzed with the use of a programmable digital computer.
  • the computer program generally contains a readable medium that stores codes. Certain code can be devoted to memory that includes the location of each feature on a probe, the identity of the adsorbent at that feature and the elution conditions used to wash the adsorbent.
  • the computer also contains code that receives as input, data on the strength of the signal at various molecular masses received from a particular addressable location on the probe. This data can indicate the number of markers detected, including the strength of the signal generated by each marker.
  • Data analysis can include the steps of determining signal strength (e.g., height of peaks) of a marker detected and removing "outliers" (data deviating from a predetermined statistical distribution).
  • the observed peaks can be normalized, a process whereby the height of each peak relative to some reference is calculated.
  • a reference can be background noise generated by instrument and chemicals (e.g., energy absorbing molecule) which is set as zero in the scale.
  • the signal strength detected for each marker or other biomolecules can be displayed in the form of relative intensities in the scale desired (e.g., 100).
  • a standard e.g., a serum protein
  • a standard may be admitted with the sample so that a peak from the standard can be used as a reference to calculate relative intensities of the signals observed for each marker or other markers detected.
  • the computer can transform the resulting data into various formats for displaying.
  • spectrum view or retentate map a standard spectral view can be displayed, wherein the view depicts the quantity of marker reaching the detector at each particular molecular weight.
  • peak map a standard spectral view
  • peak map only the peak height and mass information are retained from the spectrum view, yielding a cleaner image and enabling markers with nearly identical molecular weights to be more easily seen.
  • gel view each mass from the peak view can be converted into a grayscale image based on the height of each peak, resulting in an appearance similar to bands on electrophoretic gels.
  • 3-D overlays In yet another format, referred to as "3-D overlays,” several spectra can be overlaid to study subtle changes in relative peak heights.
  • difference map view two or more spectra can be compared, conveniently highlighting unique markers and markers which are up- or down-regulated between samples. Marker profiles (spectra) from any two samples may be compared visually.
  • Spotf ⁇ re Scatter Plot can be used, wherein markers that are detected are plotted as a dot in a plot, wherein one axis of the plot represents the apparent molecular of the markers detected and another axis represents the signal intensity of markers detected.
  • markers that are detected and the amount of markers present in the sample can be saved in a computer readable medium. This data can then be compared to a control (e.g., a profile or quantity of markers detected in control, e.g., men in whom human inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable).
  • a control e.g., a profile or quantity of markers detected in control, e.g., men in whom human inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable.
  • the software can comprise code that converts signal from the mass spectrometer into computer readable form.
  • the software also can include code that applies an algorithm to the analysis of the signal to determine whether the signal represents a "peak" in the signal corresponding to a marker of this invention, or other useful markers.
  • multiple biomarkers are measured.
  • the use of multiple biomarkers increases the predictive value of the test and provides greater utility in diagnosis, toxicology, patient stratification and patient monitoring.
  • the process called "Pattern recognition" detects the patterns formed by multiple biomarkers greatly improves the sensitivity and specificity of clinical proteomics for predictive medicine.
  • Subtle variations in data from clinical samples e.g., obtained using SELDI, indicate that certain patterns of protein expression can predict phenotypes such as the presence or absence of a certain disease, a particular stage of IBD-progression, or a positive or adverse response to drug treatments.
  • Data generation in mass spectrometry begins with the detection of ions by an ion detector as described above.
  • Ciphergen's ProteinChip system employs an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to accomplish this.
  • ADC analog-to-digital converter
  • the ADC integrates detector output at regularly spaced time intervals into time-dependent bins. The time intervals typically are one to four nanoseconds long.
  • time-of-flight spectrum ultimately analyzed typically does not represent the signal from a single pulse of ionizing energy against a sample, but rather the sum of signals from a number of pulses. This reduces noise and increases dynamic range.
  • This time-of- flight data is then subject to data processing.
  • data processing typically includes TOF-to-M/Z transformation, baseline subtraction, high frequency noise filtering.
  • TOF-to-M/Z transformation involves the application of an algorithm that transforms times-of-flight into mass-to-charge ratio (M/Z).
  • M/Z mass-to-charge ratio
  • the signals are converted from the time domain to the mass domain. That is, each time-of-flight is converted into mass-to- charge ratio, or M/Z.
  • Calibration can be done internally or externally.
  • the sample analyzed contains one or more analytes of known M/Z. Signal peaks at times-of- flight representing these massed analytes are assigned the known M/Z. Based on these assigned M/Z ratios, parameters are calculated for a mathematical function that converts times-of-flight to M/Z.
  • a function that converts times-of-flight to M/Z such as one created by prior internal calibration, is applied to a time-of-flight spectrum without the use of internal calibrants.
  • Baseline subtraction improves data quantification by eliminating artificial, reproducible instrument offsets that perturb the spectrum. It involves calculating a spectrum baseline using an algorithm that incorporates parameters such as peak width, and then subtracting the baseline from the mass spectrum.
  • the moving average filter is a variable width digital filter in which the bandwidth of the filter varies as a function of, e.g., peak bandwidth, generally becoming broader with increased time-of-flight. See, e.g., WO 00/70648, November 23, 2000 (Gavin et al., "Variable Width Digital Filter for Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry"). Analysis generally involves the identification of peaks in the spectrum that represent signal from an analyte. Peak selection can, of course, be done by eye.
  • Ciphergen's ProteinChip® software that can automate the detection of peaks.
  • this software functions by identifying signals having a signal-to-noise ratio above a selected threshold and labeling the mass of the peak at the centroid of the peak signal.
  • many spectra are compared to identify identical peaks present in some selected percentage of the mass spectra.
  • One version of this software clusters all peaks appearing in the various spectra within a defined mass range, and assigns a mass (M/Z) to all the peaks that are near the mid-point of the mass (M/Z) cluster.
  • Peak data from one or more spectra can be subject to further analysis by, for example, creating a spreadsheet in which each row represents a particular mass spectrum, each column represents a peak in the spectra defined by mass, and each cell includes the intensity of the peak in that particular spectrum.
  • Various statistical or pattern recognition approaches can applied to the data.
  • the spectra that are generated in embodiments of the invention can be classified using a pattern recognition process that uses a classification model.
  • data derived from the spectra e.g., mass spectra or time-of-flight spectra
  • samples such as "known samples”
  • a "known sample” is a sample that is pre-classified (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease or not inflammatory bowel disease).
  • Data derived from the spectra (e.g., mass spectra or time-of- flight spectra) that are generated using samples such as "known samples” can then be used to "train” a classification model.
  • a "known sample” is a sample that is pre -classified.
  • the data that are derived from the spectra and are used to form the classification model can be referred to as a "training data set”.
  • the classification model can recognize patterns in data derived from spectra generated using unknown samples.
  • the classification model can then be used to classify the unknown samples into classes. This can be useful, for example, in predicting whether or not a particular biological sample is associated with a certain biological condition (e.g., diseased vs. non diseased).
  • the training data set that is used to form the classification model may comprise raw data or pre-processed data.
  • raw data can be obtained directly from time-of-flight spectra or mass spectra, and then may be optionally "pre-processed” in any suitable manner.
  • signals above a predetermined signal-to-noise ratio can be selected so that a subset of peaks in a spectrum is selected, rather than selecting all peaks in a spectrum.
  • a predetermined number of peak "clusters" at a common value e.g., a particular time-of-flight value or mass-to-charge ratio value
  • a peak at a given mass-to-charge ratio is in less than 50% of the mass spectra in a group of mass spectra, then the peak at that mass-to-charge ratio can be omitted from the training data set.
  • Pre-processing steps such as these can be used to reduce the amount of data that is used to train the classification model.
  • Classification models can be formed using any suitable statistical classification (or "learning") method that attempts to segregate bodies of data into classes based on objective parameters present in the data.
  • Classification methods may be either supervised or unsupervised. Examples of supervised and unsupervised classification processes are described in Jain, "Statistical Pattern Recognition: A Review", IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 22, No. 1, January 2000, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
  • supervised classification training data containing examples of known categories are presented to a learning mechanism, which learns one more sets of relationships that define each of the known classes. New data may then be applied to the learning mechanism, which then classifies the new data using the learned relationships.
  • supervised classification processes include linear regression processes (e.g., multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least squares (PLS) regression and principal components regression (PCR)), binary decision trees (e.g., recursive partitioning processes such as CART - classification and regression trees), artificial neural networks such as backpropagation networks, discriminant analyses (e.g., Bayesian classifier or Fischer analysis), logistic classifiers, and support vector classifiers (support vector machines).
  • linear regression processes e.g., multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least squares (PLS) regression and principal components regression (PCR)
  • binary decision trees e.g., recursive partitioning processes such as CART - classification and regression trees
  • artificial neural networks such as backpropagation networks
  • discriminant analyses e.g.
  • a preferred supervised classification method is a recursive partitioning process.
  • Recursive partitioning processes use recursive partitioning trees to classify spectra derived from unknown samples. Further details about recursive partitioning processes are provided in U.S. 2002 0138208 Al (Paulse et al., "Method for analyzing mass spectra," September 26, 2002.
  • the classification models that are created can be formed using unsupervised learning methods.
  • Unsupervised classification attempts to learn classifications based on similarities in the training data set, without pre classifying the spectra from which the training data set was derived.
  • Unsupervised learning methods include cluster analyses. A cluster analysis attempts to divide the data into "clusters" or groups that ideally should have members that are very similar to each other, and very dissimilar to members of other clusters. Similarity is then measured using some distance metric, which measures the distance between data items, and clusters together data items that are closer to each other.
  • Clustering techniques include the MacQueen ! 's K-means algorithm and the Kohonen ! 's Self-Organizing Map algorithm.
  • the peak intensity data of samples from subjects e.g., IBD subjects, and healthy controls are used as a "discovery set.” This data were combined and randomly divided into a training set and a test set to construct and test multivariate predictive models using a non-linear version of Unified Maximum Separability Analysis ("USMA") classifiers. Details of USMA classifiers are described in U.S. 2003/0055615 Al .
  • the invention provides methods for aiding a human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis using one or more markers, for example Markers in the tables and figures which follow, and including one or more Markers 1-75 as specified herein. These markers can be used alone, in combination with other markers in any set, or with entirely different markers in aiding human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis.
  • the markers are differentially present in samples of a human inflammatory bowel disease patient and a normal subject in whom human inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable. For example, some of the markers are expressed at an elevated level and/or are present at a higher frequency in human inflammatory bowel disease subjects than in normal subjects, while some of the markers are expressed at a decreased level and/or are present at a lower frequency in human inflammatory bowel disease subjects than in normal subjects. Therefore, detection of one or more of these markers in a person would provide useful information regarding the probability that the person may have inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the invention provides methods for aiding a human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis using one or more markers, for example Markers in the tables and figures which follow, and including one or more Markers 1 -75 as specified herein. These markers can be used alone, in combination with other markers in any set, or with entirely different markers in aiding human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis.
  • the markers are differentially present in samples of a human inflammatory bowel disease patient and a normal subject in whom human inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable.
  • a biological sample is collected from a patient and then either left unfractionated, or fractionated using an anion exchange resin as described above.
  • the biomarkers in the sample are captured using an ProteinChip array.
  • the markers are then detected using SELDI.
  • SELDI SELDI-Semiconductor
  • the results are then entered into a computer system, which contains an algorithm that is designed using the same parameters that were used in the learning algorithm and classification algorithm to originally determine the biomarkers.
  • the algorithm produces a diagnosis based upon the data received relating to each biomarker.
  • the sample is collected from the patient.
  • the biomarkers are captured using an antibody ProteinChip array as described above.
  • the markers are detected using a biospecific SELDI test system.
  • the results are then entered into a computer system, which contains an algorithm that is designed using the same parameters that were used in the learning algorithm and classification algorithm to originally determine the biomarkers.
  • the algorithm produces a diagnosis based upon the data received relating to each biomarker.
  • the markers are captured and tested using non-
  • the sample is collected from the patient.
  • the biomarkers are captured on a substrate using other known means, e.g., antibodies to the markers.
  • the markers are detected using methods known in the art, e.g., optical methods and refractive index. Examples of optical methods include detection of fluorescence, e.g., ELISA. Examples of refractive index include surface plasmon resonance.
  • the results for the markers are then subjected to an algorithm, which may or may not require artificial intelligence.
  • the algorithm produces a diagnosis based upon the data received relating to each biomarker.
  • the data from the sample may be fed directly from the detection means into a computer containing the diagnostic algorithm.
  • embodiments of the invention include methods for aiding a human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis, wherein the method comprises: (a) detecting at least one marker in a sample, wherein the marker is selected from any of the Markers 1-75; and (b) correlating the detection of the marker or markers with a probable diagnosis of human inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the correlation may take into account the amount of the marker or markers in the sample compared to a control amount of the marker or markers (up or down regulation of the marker or markers) (e.g., in normal subjects in whom human inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable).
  • the correlation may take into account the presence or absence of the markers in a test sample and the frequency of detection of the same markers in a control.
  • the correlation may take into account both of such factors to facilitate determination of whether a subject has a human inflammatory bowel disease or not.
  • Markers 1 -75 are used to make a correlation with inflammatory bowel disease, wherein the inflammatory bowel disease may be any subtype, e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
  • a sample is a colon or intestinal biopsy, e.g., an endoscopic biopsy sample from the subject.
  • the sample can be prepared as described above to enhance detectability of the markers.
  • a sample from the subject can be preferably fractionated by, e.g., Cibacron blue agarose chromatography and single stranded DNA affinity chromatography, anion exchange chromatography and the like. Sample preparations, such as pre-fractionation protocols, are optional and may not be necessary to enhance detectability of markers depending on the methods of detection used. For example, sample preparation may be unnecessary if antibodies that specifically bind markers are used to detect the presence of markers in a sample.
  • Processes for the purification of a biomarker include fractioning a sample, as described herein, for example, by size-exclusion chromatography and collecting a fraction that includes one or more biomarkers; and/or fractionating a sample comprising the one or more biomarkers by anion exchange chromatography and collecting a fraction that includes one or more biomarkers, wherein the biomarker is selected from one or more of the biomarkes of Tables 1 - 3.
  • the invention also includes IBD candidate genes. These genes include, for example, apoptosis -regulating CASPlO at 2q33-34, LILRBl at 19ql3.4 (locus IBD6) and antigen-presenting genes PSME2 at 14ql 1.2 (locus IBD4). With respect to the IBD3 locus at 6p21, 35 HLA-DMA, TAPl, UBD and PSMB8 (immunoproteasome for generating MHC class I binding antigenic peptides), at 6p21.3, are particularly interesting.
  • GNGTl (7q21.3) functioning in apoptosis and PRKACB (Ip36.1 , IBD7), involved in Wnt-signaling from the UC signature are also good candidates.
  • the sequences of these genes are appended to the end of this specification, as well as exemplary primers for detecting or amplifying the makers.
  • any biomarker is useful in aiding in the determination of inflammatory bowel disease status.
  • the selected biomarker is measured in a subject sample using the methods described herein, e.g., capture on a SELDI biochip followed by detection by mass spectrometry. Then, the measurement is compared with a diagnostic amount or control that distinguishes a inflammatory bowel disease status from a non-inflammatory bowel disease status.
  • the diagnostic amount will reflect the information herein that a particular biomarker is up-regulated or down-regulated in a inflammatory bowel disease status compared with a non-inflammatory bowel disease status.
  • the particular diagnostic amount used can be adjusted to increase sensitivity or specificity of the diagnostic assay depending on the preference of the diagnostician. The test amount as compared with the diagnostic amount thus indicates inflammatory bowel disease status.
  • biomarkers 1-75 can be more frequently detected in human inflammatory bowel disease subjects than in normal subjects.
  • biomarkers 61-75 can be less frequently detected in human UC disease subjects than in normal subjects, and/or in subjects who have CD. The mere detection of one or more of these markers in a subject being tested indicates that the subject has a lower probability of having inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the measurement of markers can involve quantifying the markers to correlate the detection of markers with a probable diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • a control amount i.e., higher or lower than the control, depending on the marker
  • the correlation may take into account the amount of the marker or markers in the sample compared to a control amount of the marker or markers (up or down regulation of the marker or markers) (e.g., in normal subjects or in non-inflammatory bowel disease subjects such as where inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable).
  • a control can be, e.g., the average or median amount of marker present in comparable samples of normal subjects in normal subjects or in non-inflammatory bowel disease subjects such as where inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable.
  • the control amount is measured under the same or substantially similar experimental conditions as in measuring the test amount.
  • the correlation may take into account the presence or absence of the markers in a test sample and the frequency of detection of the same markers in a control. The correlation may take into account both of such factors to facilitate determination of inflammatory bowel disease status.
  • the methods further comprise managing subject treatment based on the status.
  • management of the subject describes the actions of the physician or clinician subsequent to determining inflammatory bowel disease status.
  • the physician may order more tests (e.g., colonoscopy and imaging techniques).
  • the physician may schedule the patient for treatment.
  • the patient may receive therapeiutic treatments, either in lieu of, or in addition to, surgery. No further action may be warranted.
  • a maintenance therapy or no further management may be necessary.
  • Therapeutic agents may include, one or more of sulfa drugs, corticosteriods (prednisone), 5-aminosalicylates (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa, or 5-ASA), immunosuppressives (azathioprine, Imuran, Cyclosporine, 6-MP, Purinethol and Methotrexate), anti-TNF (Remicade), anticholinergics, dicyclomine (Bentyl), belladonna/phenobarbital (Donnatal,
  • the invention also provides for such methods where the biomarkers (or specific combination of biomarkers) are measured again after subject management.
  • the methods are used to monitor the status of the inflammatory bowel disease, e.g., response to inflammatory bowel disease treatment, remission of the disease or progression of the disease. Because of the ease of use of the methods and the lack of invasiveness of the methods, the methods can be repeated after each treatment the patient receives. This allows the physician to follow the effectiveness of the course of treatment. If the results show that the treatment is not effective, the course of treatment can be altered accordingly. This enables the physician to be flexible in the treatment options.
  • the methods for detecting markers can be used to assay for and to identify compounds that modulate expression of these markers in vivo or in vitro.
  • the markers can be used to screen for compounds that modulate the expression of the markers in vitro or in vivo, which compounds in turn may be useful in treating or preventing inflammatory bowel disease in subjects.
  • the markers can be used to monitor the response to treatments for inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the markers can be used in heredity studies to determine if the subject is at risk for developing inflammatory bowel disease. For instance, certain markers may be genetically linked. This can be determined by, e.g., analyzing samples from a population of inflammatory bowel disease subjects whose families have a history of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the results can then be compared with data obtained from, e.g., -inflammatory bowel disease subjects whose families do not have a history of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the markers that are genetically linked may be used as a tool to determine if a subject whose family has a history of inflammatory bowel disease is pre-disposed to having inflammatory bowel disease.
  • a diagnosis based on the presence or absence in a test subject of any the biomarkers of this invention is communicated to the subject as soon as possible after the diagnosis is obtained.
  • the diagnosis may be communicated to the subject by the subject's treating physician. Alternatively, the diagnosis may be sent to a test subject by email or communicated to the subject by phone.
  • a computer may be used to communicate the diagnosis by email or phone.
  • the message containing results of a diagnostic test may be generated and delivered automatically to the subject using a combination of computer hardware and software which will be familiar to artisans skilled in telecommunications.
  • a healthcare-oriented communications system is described in U.S. Patent Number 6,283,761; however, the present invention is not limited to methods which utilize this particular communications system.
  • all or some of the method steps, including the assaying of samples, diagnosing of diseases, and communicating of assay results or diagnoses may be carried out in diverse (e.g., foreign) jurisdictions.
  • Methods of the invention for determining the inflammatory bowel disease status of a subject include for example, obtaining a biomarker profile from a sample taken from the subject; and comparing the subject's biomarker profile to a reference biomarker profile obtained from a reference population, wherein the comparison is capable of classifying the subject as belonging to or not belonging to the reference population; wherein the subject's biomarker profile and the reference biomarker profile comprise one or more markers listed in Tables 1 - 3.
  • the method may further comprise repeating the method at least once, wherein the subject's biomarker profile is obtained from a separate sample taken each time the method is repeated.
  • Samples from the subject may be taken at any time, for example, the samples may be taken 24 hours apart or any other time determined useful.
  • the reference biomarker profile can be obtained from a population comprising a single subject, at least two subjects, at least 20 subjects or more. The number of subjects will depend, in part, on the number of available subjects, and the power of the statistical analysis necessary.
  • a method of treating inflammatory bowel disease comprising administering to a subject suffering from or at risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease a therapeutically effective amount of a compound capable of modulating the expression or activity of one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3.
  • a method of treating a condition in a subject comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which modulates the expression or activity of one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3.
  • Compounds useful in methods disclosed herein include, for example, sulfa drugs, corticosteriods (prednisone), 5-aminosalicylates (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa, or 5-ASA), immunosuppressives (azathioprine, Imuran, Cyclosporine, 6-MP, Purinethol and Methotrexate), anti-TNF (Remicade), anticholinergics, dicyclomine (Bentyl), belladonna/phenobarbital (Donnatal, Antispas, bBarbidonna, donnapine, hyosophen, Spasmolin), hyoscyamine (Levsin, Anaspaz), chlordiazepoxide/clidinium (Librax), anti- diarrheals, diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil), alosetron hydrochloride (Lotronex), tegaserod (Zelnorm, Zelmac),
  • a method of qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject comprising:
  • the method may also comprise the step of measuring the at least one biomarker after subject management.
  • the methods of the invention may further comprise generating data on immobilized subject samples on a biochip, by subjecting the biochip to laser ionization and detecting intensity of signal for mass/charge ratio; and transforming the data into computer readable form; and executing an algorithm that classifies the data according to user input parameters, for detecting signals that represent biomarkers present in inflammatory bowel disease subjects and are lacking in non-inflammatory bowel disease subject controls.
  • Types of inflammatory bowel disease that may be identified or differentiated from one another according to this method include UC and CD.
  • kits for the analysis of IBD status include PCR primers for at least one marker selected from Markers 1 - 75.
  • the kit includes more than two or three markers selected from Markers 1 - 75.
  • the kit may further include instructions for use and correlation of the maker with disease status. For example, the presence of any one of Markers 1 - 31 indicate CD; the presence of any one of Markers 32 - 48 indicate IBD; the increased presence of any one of Markers 49- 60 indicate UC and the decreased presence of any one of Markers 61-75 indicate UC.
  • the kit may also include a DNA array containing the complement of one or more of the Markers selected from 1 - 75, reagents, and/or enzymes for amplifying or isolating sample DNA.
  • the kits may include reagents for real-time PCR, for example, TaqMan probes and/or primers, and enzymes.
  • kits for qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status and/or aiding a diagnosis of human inflammatory bowel disease wherein the kits can be used to detect the markers of the present invention.
  • the kits can be used to detect any one or more of the markers described herein, which markers are differentially present in samples of inflammatory bowel disease subjects and normal subjects.
  • the kits of the invention have many applications.
  • the kits can be used to differentiate if a subject has inflammatory bowel disease or has a negative diagnosis, thus aiding a human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis.
  • the kits can be used to identify compounds that modulate expression of one or more of the markers in in vitro or in vivo animal models for inflammatory bowel disease.
  • a kit comprises: (a) a substrate comprising an adsorbent thereon, wherein the adsorbent is suitable for binding a marker, and (b) instructions to detect the marker or markers by contacting a sample with the adsorbent and detecting the marker or markers retained by the adsorbent.
  • the kit may comprise an eluant (as an alternative or in combination with instructions) or instructions for making an eluant, wherein the combination of the adsorbent and the eluant allows detection of the markers using gas phase ion spectrometry.
  • Such kits can be prepared from the materials described above, and the previous discussion of these materials ⁇ e.g., probe substrates, adsorbents, washing solutions, etc.) is fully applicable to this section and will not be repeated.
  • the kit may further comprise a pre-fractionation spin column ⁇ e.g., Cibacron blue agarose column, anti-HSA agarose column, K-30 size exclusion column, Q-anion exchange spin column, single stranded DNA column, lectin column, etc.).
  • a pre-fractionation spin column ⁇ e.g., Cibacron blue agarose column, anti-HSA agarose column, K-30 size exclusion column, Q-anion exchange spin column, single stranded DNA column, lectin column, etc.
  • kits comprises (a) an antibody that specifically binds to a marker; and (b) a detection reagent.
  • a kit can be prepared from the materials described above, and the previous discussion regarding the materials ⁇ e.g., antibodies, detection reagents, immobilized supports, etc.) is fully applicable to this section and will not be repeated.
  • the kit may further comprise pre-fractionation spin columns.
  • the kit may further comprise instructions for suitable operation parameters in the form of a label or a separate insert.
  • the kit may further comprise a standard or control information so that the test sample can be compared with the control information standard to determine if the test amount of a marker detected in a sample is a diagnostic amount consistent with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the biomarkers can be used to screen for compounds that modulate the expression of the biomarkers in vitro or in vivo, which compounds in turn may be useful in treating or preventing inflammatory bowel disease in subjects.
  • the biomarkers can be used to monitor the response to treatments for inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the biomarkers can be used in heredity studies to determine if the subject is at risk for developing inflammatory bowel disease.
  • kits of this invention could include a solid substrate having a hydrophobic function, such as a protein biochip (e.g., a Ciphergen ProteinChip array) and a buffer for washing the substrate, as well as instructions providing a protocol to measure the biomarkers of this invention on the chip and to use these measurements to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Method for identifying a candidate compound for treating inflammatory bowel disease may comprise, for example, contacting one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3 with a test compound; and determining whether the test compound interacts with the biomarker, wherein a compound that interacts with the biomarker is identified as a candidate compound for treating inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Compounds suitable for therapeutic testing may be screened initially by identifying compounds which interact with one or more biomarkers listed in identified herein.
  • screening might include recombinantly expressing a biomarker of this invention, purifying the biomarker, and affixing the biomarker to a substrate.
  • Test compounds would then be contacted with the substrate, typically in aqueous conditions, and interactions between the test compound and the biomarker are measured, for example, by measuring elution rates as a function of salt concentration.
  • Certain proteins may recognize and cleave one or more biomarkers of this invention, in which case the proteins may be detected by monitoring the digestion of one or more biomarkers in a standard assay, e.g., by gel electrophoresis of the proteins.
  • the ability of a test compound to inhibit the activity of one or more of the biomarkers of this invention may be measured.
  • One of skill in the art will recognize that the techniques used to measure the activity of a particular biomarker will vary depending on the function and properties of the biomarker. For example, an enzymatic activity of a biomarker may be assayed provided that an appropriate substrate is available and provided that the concentration of the substrate or the appearance of the reaction product is readily measurable.
  • the ability of potentially therapeutic test compounds to inhibit or enhance the activity of a given biomarker may be determined by measuring the rates of catalysis in the presence or absence of the test compounds.
  • test compounds to interfere with a non-enzymatic (e.g., structural) function or activity of one of the biomarkers of this invention may also be measured.
  • a non-enzymatic function or activity of one of the biomarkers of this invention may also be measured.
  • the self-assembly of a multi-protein complex which includes one of the biomarkers of this invention may be monitored by spectroscopy in the presence or absence of a test compound.
  • test compounds which interfere with the ability of the biomarker to enhance transcription may be identified by measuring the levels of biomarker-dependent transcription in vivo or in vitro in the presence and absence of the test compound.
  • Test compounds capable of modulating the activity of any of the biomarkers of this invention may be administered to subjects who are suffering from or are at risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the administration of a test compound which increases the activity of a particular biomarker may decrease the risk of inflammatory bowel disease in a patient if the activity of the particular biomarker in vivo prevents the accumulation of proteins for inflammatory bowel disease.
  • the administration of a test compound which decreases the activity of a particular biomarker may decrease the risk of inflammatory bowel disease in a patient if the increased activity of the biomarker is responsible, at least in part, for the onset of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • screening a test compound includes obtaining samples from test subjects before and after the subjects have been exposed to a test compound.
  • the levels in the samples of one or more of the biomarkers of this invention may be measured and analyzed to determine whether the levels of the biomarkers change after exposure to a test compound.
  • the samples may be analyzed by mass spectrometry, as described herein, or the samples may be analyzed by any appropriate means known to one of skill in the art.
  • the levels of one or more of the biomarkers of this invention may be measured directly by Western blot using radio- or fluorescently-labeled antibodies which specifically bind to the biomarkers.
  • changes in the levels of mRNA encoding the one or more biomarkers may be measured and correlated with the administration of a given test compound to a subject.
  • the changes in the level of expression of one or more of the biomarkers may be measured using in vitro methods and materials.
  • human tissue cultured cells which-express, or are capable of expressing, one or more of the biomarkers of this invention may be contacted with test compounds.
  • Subjects who have been treated with test compounds will be routinely examined for any physiological effects which may result from the treatment.
  • the test compounds will be evaluated for their ability to decrease disease likelihood in a subject.
  • test compounds will be screened for their ability to slow or stop the progression of the disease.
  • a dataset can be analyzed by multiple classification algorithms. Some classification algorithms provide discrete rules for classification; others provide probability estimates of a certain outcome (class). In the latter case, the decision (diagnosis) is made based on the class with the highest probability. For example, consider the three-class problem: healthy, benign, and IBD. Suppose that a classification algorithm (e.g. Nearest neighbor) is constructed and applied to sample A, and the probability of the sample being healthy is 0, benign is 33%, and IBD is 67%. Sample A would be diagnosed as being IBD. This approach, however, does not take into account any "fuzziness" in the diagnosis i.e. that there was a certain probability that the sample was benign. Therefore, the diagnosis would be the same as for sample B, which has a probability of 0 of being healthy or benign and a probability of 1 of being IBD.
  • a classification algorithm e.g. Nearest neighbor
  • CD49un 21 F ileocolonic 3 rectum unaffected - +
  • CD53un 55 M colonic 15 T colon unaffected -
  • Fibrosis score based on extent of lamina intestinal involvement, splaying of the muscula ⁇ s mucosa, and crypt dropout
  • “Affected” pinch biopsies are from areas appearing affected by endoscopy, "unaffected” biopsies are from an area at least 10 cm away from any grossly diseased area (Table 4).
  • Histology of an adjacent biopsy was scored for inflammation and fibrosis (A.M.) (Table 4).
  • a four-tier grading scheme (-, +, ++, +++), based on semi-quantitative assessment of mucosal inflammation and fibrosis was used.
  • Biotinylated cRNA (10 ⁇ g per array) was hybridized to high-density oligonucleotide GeneChip Human Genome U95Av2 arrays (Affymetrix). The arrays were washed and stained (R-Phycoerythrin Streptavidin) in a GeneChip Fluidics Station 400.
  • the DNA-Chip Analyzer (dChip) software 17 was used to normalize the data from the image files for array-to-array comparisons (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/geo) .
  • SAM Significance Analysis of Microarays
  • MDS classical Multidimensional Scaling
  • CD-33 and CD -53 Two other patients (CD-33 and CD -53) with rectal disease and high histopathologic inflammation scores co-localized with the UC affected, possibly representing a CD subgroup resembling UC.
  • CD-45 affected endoscopically, placed in the MDS plot with controls and unaffected was subsequently found to be negative for inflammation and fibrosis by histology.
  • genes were sought that were responsible for positioning of the samples in the different quadrants of the MDS map.
  • An analysis of variance on each gene identified those with significant, quadrant specific differences in expression. From the expression pattern of these genes
  • Group 3 three groups are evident.
  • Group 1 Twenty-seven genes expressed above mean in the controls and in 5 CD individuals are down regulated in four of the five individuals with UC. A majority of these genes code for membrane-bound endoplasmic reticulum-, Golgi apparatus-, or in a few cases lysozomal- proteins. These are primarily epithelial genes that regulate protein trafficking and secretion. The only two CD individuals that manifest this UC pattern are CD 33 and 53, both noted for active rectal inflammation resembling UC.
  • Group 2 Nine genes are elevated in most CD and UC affected profiles and most likely contribute towards separation of IBD from normal controls in the MDS plot.
  • inflammatory response ILlB, SlOOAS
  • antigen presentation MHC class II immunoproteasome members PSME2 and PSMB8, MHC class II ATP-binding antigen peptide transporter TAPl, HLA-DMA and UBD of MHC class I
  • IL8 inflammatory cell chemotaxis
  • CASPl CASPlO
  • macrophage activation ASMT and interferon-regulated genes IFITMl, IFITM3, ISG20, IFI35, SPIlO
  • LILRB leukocyte protection
  • ADM acute phase response
  • STATl STAT3
  • protease inhibitors SERPINAl and SPINKl to prevent tissue destruction
  • Transporter 1 ATP-binding cassette, sub B TAPl Antigen presentation 6p21 3
  • Mucin 1 transmembrane MUCI Cytoskeleton I q21 Myosin, light polypeptide 3 MYU Cytoskeleton 3p21 3-p21 2 Chymotrypsin-hke CTRL Immune response 16q22 1 Interferon induced transmembrane protein 1 IFITMI Immune response 1 I p l 5 5 Interferon induced transmembrane protein 3 IFlTMi Immune response I l pl 5 5 5
  • UC Gene Expression Signature derived by comparing all five UC affected to control, up- regulations suggest complement cascade activation (BF and C4A), growth regulatory (MIA) and apoptosis (A TM) changes, detoxification (NNMT) and intracellular transport (SNX26) (Table 6).
  • Down regulations in UC are seen in biosynthetic and metabolic processes (PANK3, HPGD), and in endoplasmic reticulum-, Golgi-transport/intracellular trafficking (F2RL1, GABRGl, GNGTl, SLC4A4). Table 6.
  • RNA binding motif protein 8A RBMSA Unknown I q l 2
  • Protein phosphatase 2 (formerly 2A), regulatory subunit B", alpha PPP2R3A Cell growth regulation 3q22 1
  • Solute carrier family 4 sodium bicarbonate cotransporter, member 4 SLC4A4 Ion transport 4q21
  • GABA Gamma-aminobuty ⁇ c acid
  • CD genes over-expressed in CD are overwhelmingly those of acute phase and innate immune response (involving IL-I and TNF ⁇ mediated induction of NF- ⁇ B), MHC class II mediated antigen presentation, macrophage activation and recruitment of inflammatory cells.
  • the distinctive transmural tissue damage and mesenchymal involvement in CD may be due to this major early involvement of immune and inflammatory cells.
  • Gene expression changes in UC make a strong case for loss of epithelial homeostasis as being central to UC.
  • Epithelial secretion is a process that is pivotal to maintaining intestinal mucosal integrity.
  • Intracellular trafficking and secretory functions of the endoplasmic reticulum are essential for the degradation and secretion of ingested environmental toxins by the intestinal epithelium.
  • ER endoplasmic reticulum
  • An overload of degraded, unfolded proteins has been proposed to cause ER stress as in the Irel ⁇ (Inositol requiring kinase l)-deficient mouse that develop colitis when challenged with dextran sodium sulfate.
  • IBD candidate genes apoptosis -regulating CASPlO at 2q33-34, LILRBl at 19ql3.4 (locus IBD6) and antigen- presenting genes PSME2 at 14ql l .2 (locus IBD4).
  • IBD3 locus 35 HLA-DMA, TAPl, UBD and PSMB8 (immunoproteasome for generating MHC class I binding antigenic peptides), at 6p21.3, are particularly interesting.
  • GNGTl (7q21.3) functioning in apoptosis and PRKACB (Ip36.1 , IBD7), involved in Wnt-signaling from the UC signature are also good candidates.
  • biopsies marked as "affected” manifest variable degrees of acute or chronic colitis, including one or more of the following histologic features: cryptitis, with or without accompanying crypt abscesses, crypt distortion, lamina intestinal fibrosis, crypt dropout, basal lymphoplasmacytosis, and Paneth cell metaplasia ( Figure 5, C and D). None of the biopsies indicate evidence of colitis-associated epithelial dysplasia or neoplasia.
  • CXCLl, DMBTl, ASMT, ADM, STAT3, IFI35, PSME2 and PSMB8 were selected from our microarray expression profiles for further confirmation by quantitative (q) RT-PCR ( Figure 6).
  • the qRT-PCR results show excellent agreement with the array analysis results.
  • CXCLl and DMBTl are up regulated in CD and UC affected biopsies, while ADM, STAT3, PSME2 and PSMB8 are primarily up regulated in CD affected biopsies.
  • ASMT and IFB 5 show elevated levels of transcript in CD affected and unaffected biopsies ( Figure 6).

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Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of determining inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject. The invention further relates to kits for determining inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject. The invention further related to methods of identifying biomarker for determining inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject.

Description

BIOMARKERS FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/633,662, filed December 6, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are complex, heterogeneous, multifactorial diseases involving genetic, environmental and microbial factors. These inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) subtypes have distinctive etiopathologies yet share clinical and demographic features. " As many as 4 million people worldwide suffer from a form IBD. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have similar symptoms, but are very different in the manner in which they affect the digestive tract. Moreover, in 10 % of patients with colonic disease, a distinction between UC and CD cannot be made ("indeterminate colitis")-5 Diagnosis and classification of these diseases are primarily based on patient histories and serologic, radiological, endoscopic and histopathology findings.6 Early, precise differentiation and diagnosis would directly influence the clinical treatment, patient management and the outcome of such diseases.
Thus, accurate and early diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease is important for curative treatment interventions. Tools and methodologies for early detection and diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease directly impacts treatment options and prognosis. In present clinical practice, for example, screening for inflammatory bowel disease is based on clinical examination and on sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Current methods for detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of IBD fails to satisfactorily reduce the morbidity associated with the disease. There is thus a need in the art for further reduction of mortality rates, and early IBD detection in minimally invasive, cost efficient formats. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides, for the first time, novel biomarkers that are differentially present in the samples of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) subjects and in the samples of control subjects. The present invention also provides sensitive and quick methods and kits that are useful for determining the inflammatory bowel disease status by measuring these novel markers. The measurement of these markers alone or in combination, in patient samples provides information that a diagnostician can correlate with a probable diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or a negative diagnosis (e.g., normal or disease-free). The markers are characterized by their known protein identities or by their m/z value or molecular weight and/or by characteristics discussed herein. The markers can be resolved in a sample by using a variety of techniques, e.g., microarrays, PCT techniques (e.g., real time, reverse transcriptase, PCR), and fractionation techniques (e.g., chromatographic separation coupled with mass spectrometry, protein capture using immobilized antibodies or by traditional immunoassays). The present invention provides a method of qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject comprising measuring at least one biomarker in a sample from the subject.
In one embodiment, the method of resolution involves Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorpti on/Ion ization ("SELDI") mass spectrometry, in which the surface of the mass spectrometry probe comprises adsorbents that bind the markers. In one aspect, the invention provides biomarkers for inflammatory bowel disease status comprising one or more of the following Markers 1-75 and combinations thereof. These Markers 1-75 are set forth in Table 1-3, which follows and are sometimes referred to herein as biomarkers of Table I or similar designations.
In one embodiment, the biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of the invention comprises Markers 1-75. In one embodiment, markers 1 - 48 are Markers of Crohn's disease (CD). In another embodiment, markers 49 - 75 are markers of ulcerative colitis. In another embodiment, markers 49-60 are up-regulated in ulcerative colitis (UC). In yet another embodiment, markers 61-75 are down-regulated in ulcerative colitis.
In other embodiments, markers 1, 2, 4 and 5 are correlate with CD; markers 6 and 10 correlate with CD; markers 17, 18, and 21 correlate with CD; markers 55 and 57 correlate with UC; markers 55 and 57 are up-regulated in UC; markers 69, 74 and 75 and are down- regulated in UC. In one aspect, markers may discriminate between IBD disease state, for example, markers 1, 6, 17, 55 and 69 discriminate between UC and CD; markers 2, 10, 18, 57, and 74 also discriminate between UC and CD; as do markers 4, 6, 21, 55, and 69; and markers 1, 6, and 17; and markers 55 and 69. In certain embodiments, the biomarkers may be used in combination, for example, markers 1, 2, 4 and 5; markers 6 and 10; markers 17, 18, and 21 ; markers 55 and 57; markers 69, 74 and 75; markers 1, 6, 17, 55 and 69; markers 2, 10, 18, 57, and 74; 4, 6, 21, 55, and 69; markers 1, 6, and 17; and markers 55 and 69.
The invention provides, in one aspect, methods for qualifying IBD status in a subject comprising measuring at least one biomarker in a sample from the subject, wherein the biomarker is selected from one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3, and correlating the measurement with inflammatory bowel disease status.
In one embodiment, the inflammatory bowel disease is ulcerative colitis (UC) and/or Crohn's disease (CD). In one embodiment, the method further comprises managing subject treatment based on the status.
In a related embodiment the managing subject treatment is selected from ordering further diagnostic tests (e.g., colonoscopy and imaging techniques), administering at least one therapeutic agent, surgery, surgery followed or preceded by at least one therapeutic agent, biotherapy, and taking no further action.
In another related embodiment, the therapeutic agent is selected from one or more of an antibiotic, an antispasmotic, and/or an antidepressant. Examples of antibiotics include, for example, rifaximin. Other therapeutic agents include, for example, sulfa drugs, corticosteriods (prednisone), 5-aminosalicylates (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa, or 5-ASA), immunosuppressives (azathioprine, Imuran, Cyclosporine, 6-MP, Purinethol and Methotrexate), anti-TNF (Remicade), anticholinergics, dicyclomine (Bentyl), belladonna/phenobarbital (Donnatal, Antispas, bBarbidonna, donnapine, hyosophen, Spasmolin), hyoscyamine (Levsin, Anaspaz), chlordiazepoxide/clidinium (Librax), anti- diarrheals, diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil), alosetron hydrochloride (Lotronex), tegaserod (Zelnorm, Zelmac), rifaximin (Xifaxin), sulfasalazine (Azulfadine), mesalamine (Asacol,
Pentasa, Rowasa), osalazine (Dipentum), (Colazal), corticosteroids (prednisone), balsalazide disodium (colazal®), cyclosporine, methotrexate, infliximab (Remicade), rifaximin, and budesonide (Entocort EC).
In one embodiment, the method for qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject may further comprise measuring the at least one biomarker after subject management. In another embodiment, the inflammatory bowel disease status is selected from one or more of the subject's risk of IBD, the presence or absence of IBD, the type of IBD disease, the stage of IBD and effectiveness of treatment.
In another embodiment, the inflammatory bowel disease status is selected from one or more of the presence or absence of alternating diarrhea and constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, spasms, nausea, bloody diarrhea, fever, dehydration, eye inflammation, joint pain, skin rashes or lesions, mouth ulcers, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, lack of appetite, nutritional deficiencies, and/or inflamed colon.
Methods, according to one embodiment, ,may further comprise assessing the status of the inflammatory bowel disease, for example, by barium enema, upper GI series, stool culture, blood tests (to determine a white blood cell count or if anemia is present), fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, and/or colonoscopy.
The invention provides, in another aspect, methods for differentiating between a diagnosis of UC and CD comprising detecting in a subject sample an amount of at least one biomarker wherein the biomarker is selected from one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3, and correlating the amount with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or noninflammatory bowel disease.
Table 1. CD Markers
Marker Gene Symbol
Marker 1 Adrenomedullin** ADM
Marker 2 Serine protease inhibitor, Kazal type 1 SPINKI
Marker 3 Serine/cysteine proteinase inhibitor, clade A, 1 SERPINAl
Marker 4 Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 STA Tl
Marker S Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3** STA T3
Marker 6 Proteasome activator subunit 2** PSME2
Marker 7 Proteasome subunit, beta type, 8 ** PSMB8
Marker 8 Ubiquitin D UBD
Marker 9 Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2L 6 UBE2L6
Marker 10 Transporter 1, ATP-binding cassette, sub B TAPl
Marker 1 1 Caspase 1 CASPl
Marker 12 Caspase 10 CASPlO
Marker 13 Acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase ASMT
Marker 14 Mucin 1 , transmembrane MUCl
Marker 15 Myosin, light polypeptide 3 MYLi
Marker 16 Chymotrypsin-like CTRL
Marker 17 Interferon induced transmembrane protein 1 IFITMl
Marker 18 Interferon induced transmembrane protein 3 1FITM3
Marker 19 Interferon stimulated gene 2OkDa ISG20
Marker 20 Interferon-induced protein 35** IFI35
Marker 21 Interleukin 1, beta ILlB
Marker 22 Leukocyte Ig-like receptor, subfamily B, 1 LILRBl
Marker 23 MHC, class II, DM alpha HLA-DMA
Marker 24 SPI lO nuclear body protein SPI IO
Marker 25 Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 ** CXCLl
Marker 26 Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 3 CXCL3
Marker 27 Interleukin 8 IL8
Marker 28 Regenerating islet-derived 1 beta REGlB
Marker 29 S l OO calcium binding protein A8 S100A8
Marker 30 Lipase, gastric LIPF
Marker 31 Ig lambda variable (I V)/OR22-2 IGL VIVOR22-2
Table 2. IBD Markers
Marker Gene Symbol
Marker 32 Ig heavy constant gamma 4 (G4m marker) IGHG4
Marker 33 Defensin, alpha 6, Paneth cell-specific DEFA6
Marker 34 Complement component 4 binding protein, β C4BPB
Marker 35 Decay accelerating factor for complement DAF
Marker 36 Membrane-associated protein 17 MAP17
Marker 37 Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 CXCL2
Marker 38 Deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 ** DMBTl
Marker 39 Interferon, alpha-inducible protein Gl P3
Marker 40 Lipocalin 2 LCN2
Marker 41 Nitric oxide synthase 2A NOS2A
Marker 42 Pancreatitis-associated protein PAP
Marker 43 Regenerating islet-derived 1 alpha REGlA
Marker 44 Sl OO calcium binding protein A9 S100A9
Marker 45 Protein kinase C, eta PRKCH
Marker 46 Regulator of G-protein signalling 3 RGS3
Marker 47 DNA-damage-inducible transcript 4 DDIT4
Marker 48 Hypothetical protein FLJ 12443 FLJ12443
Table 3. UC Gene Expression Signature
Marker Gene Symbol
Up-Regulated
Marker 49 Defensin, alpha 5, Paneth cell-specific DEF A 5
Marker 50 Ataxia telangiectasia mutated A TM
Marker 51 Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 13 CXCLIi
Marker 52 B-factor, properdin BF
Marker 53 Complement component 4A C4A
Marker 54 Actin, beta ACTB
Marker 55 Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase NNMT
Marker 56 Melanoma inhibitory activity MlA
Marker 57 Sorting nexin 26 SNX26
Marker 58 A disintegπn and metalloproteinase domain 5 ADAM 5
Marker 59 RNA binding motif protein 8A RBM8A
Marker 60 Tribbles homolog 2 (Drosophila) TRIB2
Down-Regulated
Marker 61 Cyclin Gl CCNGJ Marker 62 Myeloid/lymphoid or mixed-lineage leukemia, translocated to, 3 MLLTi Marker 63 Protein phosphatase 2 (formerly 2A), regulatory subunit B", alpha PPP2RiA Marker 64 Pantothenate kinase 3 PANKi Marker 65 Dynein, axonemal, heavy polypeptide 9 DNAH9 Marker 66 Guanine nucleotide binding protein, gamma transducing activity GNGTl polypeptide 1
Marker 67 Coagulation factor 11 (thrombin) receptor-like 1 F2RL1 Marker 68 Surfactant, pulmonary-associated protein D SFTPD Marker 69 Solute carrier family 4, sodium bicarbonate cotransporter, member SLC4A4
4
Marker 70 Gamma-aminobutyπc acid (GABA) A receptor, gamma 3 GABRGi Marker 71 Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase 15-(NAD) HPGD Marker 72 TAF5-hke RNA polymerase II, p300/CBP-associated factor TAF SL
(PCAF)-associatcd factor, 65kDa
Marker 73 Protein kinase, cAMP-dependent, catalytic, beta PRKACB Marker 74 DPMI Marker 75 SERPl Markers of the invention may be detected, for example, by mass spectrometry according to one embodiment. In a related embodiment, the markers are detected by SELDI. In another related embodiment, the marker or markers are detected by capturing the marker on a biochip having a hydrophobic surface and detecting the captured marker by SELDI. Suitable biochips include the IMAC3 ProteinChip® Array and the WCX2 ProteinChip® Array. In another related embodiment, markers are detected by nucleic acid arrays, e.g., DNA arrays or by PCR methods.
In one embodiment, the methods for qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject further comprise generating data on immobilized subject samples on a biochip, by subjecting the biochip to laser ionization and detecting intensity of signal for mass/charge ratio; and transforming the data into computer readable form; executing an algorithm that classifies the data according to user input parameters, for detecting signals that represent biomarkers present in inflammatory bowel disease subjects and are lacking in noninflammatory bowel disease subject controls. In one embodiment, one or more of the biomarkers are detected using laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, comprising providing a probe adapted for use with a mass spectrometer comprising an adsorbent attached thereto; contacting the subject sample with the adsorbent; desorbing and ionizing the biomarker or biomarkers from the probe; and detecting the desorbed/ionized markers with the mass spectrometer. In one embodiment, least one or more protein biomarkers are detected using immunoassays.
In one embodiment, the sample from the subject is one or more of colon biopsy material, intestinal biopsy material, fecal material, blood, blood plasma, serum, urine, cells, organs, seminal fluids, bone marrow, saliva, stool, a cellular extract, a tissue sample, a tissue biopsy, and cerebrospinal fluid.
In one embodiment, the methods for qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject further comprise measuring the amount of each biomarker in the subject sample and determining the ratio of the amounts between the markers. In a related embodiment, the measuring is selected from detecting the presence or absence of the biomarkers(s), quantifying the amount of marker(s), and qualifying the type of biomarker. In one embodiment, at least two biomarkers are measured. In a related embodiment, at least three biomarkers are measured. In another embodiment, at least four biomarkers are measured. In yet another embodiment, at least one UC and at least one CD biomarker is measured.
In one embodiment, the protein biomarkers are measured by one or more of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), ESI-MS/MS, ESI-MS/(MS)n, matrix- assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF- MS), desorption/ionization on silicon (DIOS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS), APCI-MS/MS, APCI-(MS).sup.n, atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry (APPI-MS), APPI-MS/MS, and APPI-(MS)n, quadrupole mass spectrometry, fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS), and ion trap mass spectrometry, where n is an integer greater than zero.
In one embodiment, the correlating is performed by a software classification algorithm. The invention provides kits, for example, for aiding the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or the diagnosis of the subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease. The kits may suitably include an adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent retains one or more biomarkers selected from one or more of the markers of Tables 1 - 3, and written instructions for use of the kit for detection of inflammatory bowel disease. In one embodiment, the kit for aiding the diagnosis of the subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease, comprises an adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent retains one or more biomarkers selected from each of Markers 1 - 48 and Markers 49-75, and written instructions for use of the kit for detection of the IBD or a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease, e.g., UC or CD.
Kits may also comprise instructions provide for contacting a test sample with the adsorbent and detecting one or more biomarkers retained by the adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent is, for example, an antibody, single or double stranded oligonucleotide, amino acid, protein, peptide or fragments thereof.
In one embodiment, the one or more protein biomarkers is detected using mass spectrometry, immunoassays, or PCR. In another embodiment, the measuring is selected from detecting the presence or absence of the biomarkers(s), quantifying the amount of marker(s), and qualifying the type of biomarker. In one aspect, the invention provides methods for identifying a candidate compound for treating inflammatory bowel disease comprising contacting one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3 with a test compound; and determining whether the test compound interacts with the biomarker, wherein a compound that interacts with the biomarker is identified as a candidate compound for treating inflammatory bowel disease.
The invention also provides methods of treating inflammatory bowel disease comprising administering to a subject suffering from or at risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease a therapeutically effective amount of a compound capable of modulating the expression or activity of one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3. In another aspect, the invention provides methods of treating a condition in a subject comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which modulates the expression or activity of one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3.
In certain embodiments, the compound are selected from the group consisting of enzyme inhibitor, cytotoxic drug, cytokin, chemokine, antibodies, a DNA molecule, an RNA molecule, a small molecule, a peptide, and a peptidomimetic. Classes of drugs include, antiinflammatory, antibiotic, antiviral, antidepressant, anticonvulsant therapeutics.
According to one aspect, the invention provides methods for modulating the concentration of a biomarker, wherein the biomarker is one or more of the biomarkers listed in Tables 1 - 3. The method comprises contacting a cell with a test compound, measuring at least one biomarker, wherein the biomarker is selected from one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3, and correlating the measurement with a determination of efficacy.
The invention also provides, in one aspect, a method of identifying a biomarker comprising obtaining an endoscopic sample from a subject, isolating nucleic acid from the sample, analyzing the nucleic acid and correlating the results. The results may be analyzed against a control database of IBD samples and/or controls.
The invention also provides methods of determining the inflammatory bowel disease status of a subject, comprising (a) obtaining a biomarker profile from a sample taken from the subject; and (b) comparing the subject's biomarker profile to a reference biomarker profile obtained from a reference population, wherein the comparison is capable of classifying the subject as belonging to or not belonging to the reference population; wherein the subject's biomarker profile and the reference biomarker profile comprise one or more markers listed in Tables 1 - 3. In one embodiment, the comparison of the biomarker profiles can determine inflammatory bowel disease status in the subject with an accuracy of at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or approaching 100%.
In certain embodiments, the sample is fractionated by one or more of chemical extraction partitioning, ion exchange chromatography, reverse phase liquid chromatography, isoelectric focusing, one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), two- dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-P AGE), thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and any combination thereof.
In other methods, the measuring step comprises quantifying the amount of marker(s) in the sample. In other methods, the measuring step comprises qualifying the type of biomarker in the sample.
When the identity of a markers is not yet known, the biomarkes may be sufficiently characterized by, e.g., mass and by affinity characteristics. It is noted that molecular weight and binding properties are characteristic properties of the markers and not limitations on means of detection or isolation. Furthermore, using the methods described herein or other methods known in the art, the absolute identity of markers can be determined.
The present invention also relates to biomarkers designated as Markers 1-75. Protein markers of the invention can be characterized in one or more of several respects. In particular, in one aspect, these markers are characterized by molecular weights under the conditions specified herein, particularly as determined by mass spectral analysis. In another aspect, the markers can be characterized by features of the markers' mass spectral signature such as size (including area) and/or shape of the markers' spectral peaks, features including proximity, size and shape of neighboring peaks, etc. In yet another aspect, the markers can be characterized by affinity binding characteristics, particularly ability to binding to cation- exchange and/or hydrophobic surfaces. In preferred embodiments, markers of the invention may be characterized by each of such aspects, i.e. molecular weight, mass spectral signature and cation and/or hydrophobic absorbent binding.
Accuracy and resolution variances associated with the techniques described herein are reflected in the use of the term "about" in the disclosure. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides for a method for detecting and diagnosing (including e.g., differentiating between) different subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease, wherein the method comprises using a biochip array for detecting at least one biomarker in a subject sample; evaluating at least one biomarker in a subject sample, and correlating the detection of one or more protein biomarkers with a inflammatory bowel disease subtype, e.g., UC and CD.
The biomarkers of the invention may be detected in samples of blood, blood plasma, serum, urine, tissue, cells, organs, seminal fluids, bone marrow, colon biopsies, intestinal biopsies, and cerebrospinal fluid.
Preferred detection methods include use of a biochip array. Biochip arrays useful in the invention include protein and nucleic acid arrays. One or more markers are captured on the biochip array and subjected to laser ionization to detect the molecular weight of the markers. Analysis of the markers is, for example, by molecular weight of the one or more markers against a threshold intensity that is normalized against total ion current.
In preferred methods of the present invention, the step of correlating the measurement of the biomarkers with inflammatory bowel disease status is performed by a software classification algorithm. Preferably, data is generated on immobilized subject samples on a biochip array, by subjecting the biochip array to laser ionization and detecting intensity of signal for mass/charge ratio; and transforming the data into computer readable form; and executing an algorithm that classifies the data according to user input parameters, for detecting signals that represent markers present in inflammatory bowel disease subjects and are lacking in non-inflammatory bowel disease subject controls. Preferably the biochip surfaces are, for example, ionic, anionic, hydrophobic; comprised of immobilized nickel or copper ions;, comprised of a mixture of positive and negative ions; and/or comprised of one or more antibodies, single or double stranded nucleic acids, proteins, peptides or fragments thereof, amino acid probes, or phage display libraries.
In other preferred methods one or more of the markers are measured using laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, comprising providing a probe adapted for use with a mass spectrometer comprising an adsorbent attached thereto, and contacting the subject sample with the adsorbent, and desorbing and ionizing the marker or markers from the probe and detecting the deionized/ionized markers with the mass spectrometer.
Preferably, the laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry comprises: providing a substrate comprising an adsorbent attached thereto; contacting the subject sample with the adsorbent; placing the substrate on a probe adapted for use with a mass spectrometer comprising an adsorbent attached thereto; and desorbing and ionizing the marker or markers from the probe and detecting the desorbed/ionized marker or markers with the mass spectrometer.
The adsorbent can for example be, hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ionic or metal chelate adsorbent, such as nickel or copper, or an antibody, single- or double stranded oligonucleotide, amino acid, protein, peptide or fragments thereof.
In another embodiment, a process for purification of a biomarker, comprising fractioning a sample comprising one or more protein biomarkers by size-exclusion chromatography and collecting a fraction that includes the one or more biomarker; and/or fractionating a sample comprising the one or more biomarkers by anion exchange chromatography and collecting a fraction that includes the one or more biomarkers. Fractionation is monitored for purity on normal phase and immobilized nickel arrays. Generating data on immobilized marker fractions on an array is accomplished by subjecting the array to laser ionization and detecting intensity of signal for mass/charge ratio; and transforming the data into computer readable form; and executing an algorithm that classifies the data according to user input parameters, for detecting signals that represent markers present in inflammatory bowel disease subjects and are lacking in non-inflammatory bowel disease subject controls. Preferably fractions are subjected to gel electrophoresis and correlated with data generated by mass spectrometry. In one aspect, gel bands representative of potential markers are excised and subjected to enzymatic treatment and are applied to biochip arrays for peptide mapping.
In another aspect one or more biomarkers are selected from gel bands representing Markers 1-75 described herein.
Purified proteins for detection of inflammatory bowel disease and/or screening and aiding in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and/or generation of antibodies for further diagnostic assays are provided.
In further embodiments, the invention provides methods for identifying compounds (e.g., antibodies, nucleic acid molecules (e.g., DNA, RNA), small molecules, peptides, and/or peptidomimetics) capable of treating inflammatory bowel disease comprising contacting at least one or more of a biomarker selected from Markers 1-75, and combinations thereof with a test compound; and determining whether the test compound interacts with, binds to, or modulates the biomarker, wherein a compound that interacts with, binds to, or modulates the biomarker is identifies as a compound capable of treated inflammatory bowel disease. In another embodiment, the invention provides methods of treating inflammatory bowel disease comprising administering to a subject suffering from or at risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease a therapeutically effective amount of a compound (e.g., an antibody, nucleic acid molecule (e.g., DNA, RNA), small molecule, peptide, and/or peptidomimetic) capable of modulating the expression or activity of one or more of the Biomarkes 1-75.
In one aspect, the invention provides methods of determining the inflammatory bowel disease status of a subject, comprising (a) obtaining a biomarker profile from a sample taken from the subject; and (b) comparing the subject's biomarker profile to a reference biomarker profile obtained from a reference population, wherein the comparison is capable of classifying the subject as belonging to or not belonging to the reference population; wherein the subject's biomarker profile and the reference biomarker profile comprise one or more markers listed in Tables 1 - 3.
Methods of the invention, one embodiment, may further comprise repeating the method at least once, wherein the subject's biomarker profile is obtained from a separate sample taken each time the method is repeated.
In another embodiment, samples from the subject are taken about 24, 30, 48, 60, and/or 72 hours apart.
In another embodiment, the comparison of the biomarker profiles can determine inflammatory bowel disease status in the subject with an accuracy of at least about 60% to about 99% .
In one embodiment, the reference biomarker profile is obtained from a population comprising a single subject, at least two subjects, and at least 20 subjects.
Thus, the methods of the present invention provide and solve the need for methods of accurately assessing, i.e., diagnostically, prognostically, and therapeutically, IBD, including UC and CD.
Other embodiments of the invention are disclosed infra. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 depicts gene expression signals from CD-76-aff-l (X axis) and CD-76-aff-2 (Y axis) biopsies from one affected area. Each point represents the expression value of a probe set (defining a gene) in log-scale in the two biopsies. A probe set with a "Present" call in both arrays (red), "Absent" in both (yellow), and "Present" in either one of the two arrays (blue) is shown. The diagonal lines indicate fold change of 2, 3, and 10 in expression levels between two arrays. For genes expressed differentially between the two arrays, change in expression must be > 2 fold, expression > 100 arbitrary units, and "Present call" in one sample. Figure 2 depicts multidimensional scaling (MDS) of 32 samples. In a four dimensional representation of the data we compared the dimensions in a pair- wise fashion. A plot of component 1 versus component 2 is shown, divided into four quadrants (Q1-Q4). Healthy controls: black open circles, CD affected: solid blue triangles, CD unaffected: open blue triangle, UC affected: red solid square, UC unaffected: open red square. Each affected is linked to its corresponding unaffected sample by a line. The affected IBD biopsies fall primarily in Q 1 and Q4, normal and several unaffected CD appear in Q2 and Q3, with unaffected UC biopsy profiles localizing to Q3.
Figure 3 depicts hierarchical clustering across all arrays, of the top 50 genes whose expression patterns correlate with the distribution of samples in the MDS plot of Figure 2. The inflammation score (*) for each biopsy taken from Tables 1 - 3 are shown on the top.
Genes with similar expression levels across samples are clustered vertically and samples with similar gene expression patterns are grouped horizontally. Genes expressed above mean (red), mean (black) and below mean (green) are as shown. To derive this set of genes, each sample was assigned to one of four groups, depending on which quadrant it occupied in the MDS map, and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) on the expression values for each gene was calculated. Genes with large F-statistics have strong quadrant specific differences in expression. The top 50 genes with the highest F-statistic scores are shown.
Figure 4 is a model showing distinct pathogenic events in UC and CD. Gene symbols are taken from Tables 2, 3 and Figure 4. Gene up regulations and down regulations are indicated by arrows. We speculate that in response to microbial and other environmental stimuli, CD shows a deregulated immune response that entails acute phase response, antigen presentation and macrophage activation. In contrast early events in UC suggest impaired detoxification, overload of unfolded proteins and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Figure 5 depicts histology of endoscopic biopsies of colon from a healthy control (A), CD-76, a patient with Crohn's disease (B and C), and UC-55, a patient with ulcerative colitis (D). (B) is taken from unaffected mucosa showing essentially normal colon structures. (C), a view of CD76 affected biopsy, showing significant inflammatory infiltration in the mucosa and submucosa, cryptitis with crypt abscesses, and basal lymphoplasmacytosis (inflammation grade: ++). (D), UC-55 affected demonstrates crypt distortion and dropout, and lamina propria fibrosis (fibrosis grade: ++). MM: muscularis mucosa (*), SM: submucosa. H&E staining, original magnification 4Ox.
Figure 6 depicts the expressions of selected genes that were quantified by real-time RT-PCR. The relative expression value of a gene was normalized to that of GAPD. The samples include unaffected (un) and affected (aff) sample from six CD cases (CD-33, 51, 53, 58, 59 and 76), five UC samples (UC-32, 35, 38, 44 and 55) and four from normal controls (N65, N66, N69 and N79). Each point represents an individual sample. Gene symbols are CXCLl: chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1, DMBTl: deleted in malignant brain tumors 1, ADM: adrenomedullin, STAT3: signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, ASMT: acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase, IFI35: interferon-induced protein 35, PSME2: proteasome activator subunit 2, and PSMB8: proteasome subunit, beta type, 8. The horizontal bar indicates the mean value of each group.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention provides biomarkers generated from comparison of protein profiles from subjects diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and from subjects without known neoplastic diseases, using the mass spectrometry techniques. In particular, the invention provides that these biomarkers, used individually, or preferably in combination with other biomarkers from this group or with other diagnostic tests, provide a novel method of determining inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject.
The present invention presents markers that are differentially present in samples of inflammatory bowel disease subjects and control subjects, and the application of this discovery in methods and kits for determining inflammatory bowel disease status. These protein markers are found in samples from inflammatory bowel disease subjects at levels that are different than the levels in samples from subject in whom human IBD is undetectable. Accordingly, the amount of one or more markers found in a test sample compared to a control, or the presence or absence of one or more markers in the test sample provides useful information regarding the inflammatory bowel disease status of the patient.
The present invention also relates to a method for identification of biomarkers for IBD, with high specificity and sensitivity. In particular, a panel of biomarkers were identified that are associated with inflammatory bowel disease status.
In the data presented herein, we describe for the first time a serum protein profile which aids in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. Examining 139 samples of subjects and healthy persons, this profile distinguished subjects with inflammatory bowel disease from control subjects independent validation sets. DEFINITIONS
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the meaning commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The following references provide one of skill with a general definition of many of the terms used in this invention: Singleton et al, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology (2nd ed. 1994); The Cambridge Dictionary of Science and Technology (Walker ed., 1988); The Glossary of Genetics, 5th Ed., R. Rieger et al. (eds.), Springer Verlag (1991); and Hale & Marham, The Harper Collins Dictionary of Biology (1991). As used herein, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them unless specified otherwise.
"Inflammatory bowel disease," as used herein, refers to a functional disorder of the colon (large intestine) that causes crampy abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea. IBS is classified as a functional gastrointestinal disorder because no structural or biochemical cause can be found to explain the symptoms. The most common symptoms of IBD include, abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, rectal bleeding, skin and eye irritations, and diarrhea. Intervals of active disease, or 'flares', and periods of remission characterize IBD. Upon diagnostic testing, the colon shows no evidence of disease such as ulcers or inflammation. Therefore, IBS preferably diagnosed only after other possible digestive disorders and diseases have been ruled out. IBS is often misdiagnosed or misnamed as colitis, mucous colitis, spastic colon, irritable bowel disease or spastic bowel (colon).
"Ulcerative colitis," as used herein refers to a disease that is a form of IBD and causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the top layers of the lining of the large intestine. Common symptoms of UC include bloody diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain. There can also be symptoms outside the digestive system which are known as extra-intestinal symptoms. Fever is a characteristic of the inflammatory process that takes place in UC and there are several extra-intestinal symptoms that are not directly related to the inflammation in the colon and include eye inflammation, joint pains, skin rashes or lesions, and mouth ulcers. UC is diagnosed, for example, by stool culture, blood tests, fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and barium enema. There are several types of medications that are frequently used to treat UC, including, for example, sulfasalazine (Azulfadine), mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa), osalazine (Dipentum), (Colazal) and corticosteroids (prednisone). Surgery may also be used to treat UC, usually after all available drug treatments have failed. Surgery for UC always involves a total colectomy, or a complete removal of the large intestine (colon). Resection, or removing only the diseased section of the colon, is not an option in UC, because the disease will only re-occur in the portion of the colon that is left.
"Crohn's disease," as used herein refers to a form of IBD that is manifested by inflammation anywhere along the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Of CD cases, 45% occur in ileum and colon, 35% in just the ileum, and 20% in just the colon. Unlike ulcerative colitis (UC), which only affects the inner layer, CD commonly involves all layers of the intestinal wall. Common symptoms of CD include chronic diarrhea fever, abdominal pain, weight loss, and lack of appetite. Frequent diarrhea can lead to dehydration and nutritional deficiencies. Because the colon is inflamed, it is not as efficient at absorbing water and nutrients from food. Other symptoms include, fistulas and fissures. A fissure is a tear or ulcer in the lining of the anal canal and symptoms include painful bowel movements, bright red blood in toilet bowel or on paper, anal lump, and swollen skin tag. Acute fissures may be treated with Sitz baths, fiber to create softer stools, stool softeners, topical hydrocortisone, zinc oxide, petroleum jelly and topical anesthetics. A chronic fissure may need more aggressive treatment including surgery. A fistula is an abnormal tunnel connecting two body cavities or a body cavity to the skin. Approximately 30% of people with Crohn's Disease develop fistulas. Treatments include antibiotics, immunosuppresants, Remicade, liquid nutrition to replace solid food and surgery. Treatments for CD include, for example, sulfasalazine (Azulfadine), mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa), balsalazide disodium (colazal®), azathioprine (Imuran), 6-MP (Purinethol), cyclosporine, methotrexate, infliximab
(Remicade), rifaximin, Budesonide (Entocort EC), and corticosteroids (prednisone). Surgery may also be used to treat CD, including resection, ileostomy, stoma, and strictureplasty, usually after all available drug treatments have failed. Anywhere from 40 to 60% of CD patients who have disease in the small bowel will have surgery in the first 10 years after diagnosis. Several different types of surgery are used to treat symptoms and complications of CD, yet none are a cure. Several tests may be used by physicians to diagnose CD, including, barium enema, upper GI series, stool culture, blood tests to determine a white blood cell count or if anemia is present, fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and other tests may be used to rule out other potential diagnoses.
The term "inflammatory bowel disease status" refers to the status of the disease in the patient. Examples of types of inflammatory bowel disease statuses include, but are not limited to, the subject's risk of IBD, including colorectal UC or CD, the presence or absence of disease (e.g., IBD, UC or CD), the stage of disease in a patient (e.g., IBD, UC or CD), and the effectiveness of treatment of disease. Other statuses and degrees of each status are known in the art.
"Gas phase ion spectrometer" refers to an apparatus that detects gas phase ions. Gas phase ion spectrometers include an ion source that supplies gas phase ions. Gas phase ion spectrometers include, for example, mass spectrometers, ion mobility spectrometers, and total ion current measuring devices. "Gas phase ion spectrometry" refers to the use of a gas phase ion spectrometer to detect gas phase ions.
"Mass spectrometer" refers to a gas phase ion spectrometer that measures a parameter that can be translated into mass-to-charge ratios of gas phase ions. Mass spectrometers generally include an ion source and a mass analyzer. Examples of mass spectrometers are time-of-flight, magnetic sector, quadrupole filter, ion trap, ion cyclotron resonance, electrostatic sector analyzer and hybrids of these. "Mass spectrometry" refers to the use of a mass spectrometer to detect gas phase ions.
"Laser desorption mass spectrometer" refers to a mass spectrometer that uses laser energy as a means to desorb, volatilize, and ionize an analyte. "Tandem mass spectrometer" refers to any mass spectrometer that is capable of performing two successive stages of m/z-based discrimination or measurement of ions, including ions in an ion mixture. The phrase includes mass spectrometers having two mass analyzers that are capable of performing two successive stages of m/z-based discrimination or measurement of ions tandem-in-space. The phrase further includes mass spectrometers having a single mass analyzer that is capable of performing two successive stages of m/z- based discrimination or measurement of ions tandem-in-time. The phrase thus explicitly includes Qq-TOF mass spectrometers, ion trap mass spectrometers, ion trap-TOF mass spectrometers, TOF-TOF mass spectrometers, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometers, electrostatic sector - magnetic sector mass spectrometers, and combinations thereof.
"Mass analyzer" refers to a sub-assembly of a mass spectrometer that comprises means for measuring a parameter that can be translated into mass-to-charge ratios of gas phase ions. In a time-of-flight mass spectrometer the mass analyzer comprises an ion optic assembly, a flight tube and an ion detector.
"Ion source" refers to a sub-assembly of a gas phase ion spectrometer that provides gas phase ions. In one embodiment, the ion source provides ions through a desorption/ionization process. Such embodiments generally comprise a probe interface that positionally engages a probe in an interrogatable relationship to a source of ionizing energy (e.g., a laser desorption/ionization source) and in concurrent communication at atmospheric or subatmospheric pressure with a detector of a gas phase ion spectrometer.
Forms of ionizing energy for desorbing/ionizing an analyte from a solid phase include, for example: (1) laser energy; (2) fast atoms (used in fast atom bombardment); (3) high energy particles generated via beta decay of radionucleides (used in plasma desorption); and (4) primary ions generating secondary ions (used in secondary ion mass spectrometry). The preferred form of ionizing energy for solid phase analytes is a laser (used in laser desorption/ionization), in particular, nitrogen lasers, Nd- Yag lasers and other pulsed laser sources. "Fluence" refers to the energy delivered per unit area of interrogated image. A high fluence source, such as a laser, will deliver about 1 mJ / mm2 to 50 mJ / mm2. Typically, a sample is placed on the surface of a probe, the probe is engaged with the probe interface and the probe surface is struck with the ionizing energy. The energy desorbs analyte molecules from the surface into the gas phase and ionizes them. Other forms of ionizing energy for analytes include, for example: (1) electrons that ionize gas phase neutrals; (2) strong electric field to induce ionization from gas phase, solid phase, or liquid phase neutrals; and (3) a source that applies a combination of ionization particles or electric fields with neutral chemicals to induce chemical ionization of solid phase, gas phase, and liquid phase neutrals. "Solid support" refers to a solid material which can be derivatized with, or otherwise attached to, a capture reagent. Exemplary solid supports include probes, microtiter plates and chromatographic resins. "Probe" in the context of this invention refers to a device adapted to engage a probe interface of a gas phase ion spectrometer (e.g., a mass spectrometer) and to present an analyte to ionizing energy for ionization and introduction into a gas phase ion spectrometer, such as a mass spectrometer. A "probe" will generally comprise a solid substrate (either flexible or rigid) comprising a sample presenting surface on which an analyte is presented to the source of ionizing energy.
"Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization" or "SELDI" refers to a method of desorption/ionization gas phase ion spectrometry (e.g., mass spectrometry) in which the analyte is captured on the surface of a SELDI probe that engages the probe interface of the gas phase ion spectrometer. In "SELDI MS," the gas phase ion spectrometer is a mass spectrometer. SELDI technology is described in, e.g., U.S. patent 5,719,060 (Hutchens and Yip) and U.S. patent 6,225,047 (Hutchens and Yip).
"Surface-Enhanced Affinity Capture" or "SEAC" is a version of SELDI that involves the use of probes comprising an absorbent surface (a "SEAC probe"). "Adsorbent surface" refers to a surface to which is bound an adsorbent (also called a "capture reagent" or an
"affinity reagent"). An adsorbent is any material capable of binding an analyte (e.g., a target polypeptide or nucleic acid). "Chromatographic adsorbent" refers to a material typically used in chromatography. Chromatographic adsorbents include, for example, ion exchange materials, metal chelators (e.g., nitriloacetic acid or iminodiacetic acid), immobilized metal chelates, hydrophobic interaction adsorbents, hydrophilic interaction adsorbents, dyes, simple biomolecules (e.g., nucleotides, amino acids, simple sugars and fatty acids) and mixed mode adsorbents (e.g., hydrophobic attraction/electrostatic repulsion adsorbents). "Biospecific adsorbent" refers an adsorbent comprising a biomolecule, e.g., a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an aptamer), a polypeptide, a polysaccharide, a lipid, a steroid or a conjugate of these (e.g., a glycoprotein, a lipoprotein, a glycolipid, a nucleic acid (e.g., DNA)-protein conjugate). In certain instances the biospecific adsorbent can be a macromolecular structure such as a multiprotein complex, a biological membrane or a virus. Examples of biospecific adsorbents are antibodies, receptor proteins and nucleic acids. Biospecific adsorbents typically have higher specificity for a target analyte than chromatographic adsorbents. Further examples of adsorbents for use in SELDI can be found in U.S. Patent 6,225,047 (Hutchens and Yip, "Use of retentate chromatography to generate difference maps," May 1 , 2001).
In some embodiments, a SEAC probe is provided as a pre-activated surface which can be modified to provide an adsorbent of choice. For example, certain probes are provided with a reactive moiety that is capable of binding a biological molecule through a covalent bond. Epoxide and carbodiimidizole are useful reactive moieties to covalently bind biospecific adsorbents such as antibodies or cellular receptors.
"Adsorption" refers to detectable non-covalent binding of an analyte to an adsorbent or capture reagent.
"Surface-Enhanced Neat Desorption" or "SEND" is a version of SELDl that involves the use of probes comprising energy absorbing molecules chemically bound to the probe surface. ("SEND probe.") "Energy absorbing molecules" ("EAM") refer to molecules that are capable of absorbing energy from a laser desorption/ ionization source and thereafter contributing to desorption and ionization of analyte molecules in contact therewith. The phrase includes molecules used in MALDl , frequently referred to as "matrix", and explicitly includes cinnamic acid derivatives, sinapinic acid ("SPA"), cyano-hydroxy-cinnamic acid ("CHCA") and dihydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, hydroxyacetophenone derivatives, as well as others. It also includes EAMs used in SELDI. SEND is further described in United States patent 5,719,060 and United States patent application 60/408,255, filed September 4, 2002 (Kitagawa, "Monomers And Polymers Having Energy Absorbing Moieties Of Use In Desorption/Ionization Of Analytes").
"Surface-Enhanced Photolabile Attachment and Release" or "SEPAR" is a version of SELDI that involves the use of probes having moieties attached to the surface that can covalently bind an analyte, and then release the analyte through breaking a photolabile bond in the moiety after exposure to light, e.g., laser light. SEPAR is further described in United States Patent 5,719,060.
"Eluant" or "wash solution" refers to an agent, typically a solution, which is used to affect or modify adsorption of an analyte to an adsorbent surface and/or remove unbound materials from the surface. The elution characteristics of an eluant can depend on, for example, pH, ionic strength, hydrophobicity, degree of chaotropism, detergent strength and temperature.
"Analyte" refers to any component of a sample that is desired to be detected. The term can refer to a single component or a plurality of components in the sample. The "complexity" of a sample adsorbed to an adsorption surface of an affinity capture probe means the number of different protein species that are adsorbed. "Molecular binding partners" and "specific binding partners" refer to pairs of molecules, typically pairs of biomolecules that exhibit specific binding. Molecular binding partners include, without limitation, receptor and ligand, antibody and antigen, biotin and avidin, and biotin and streptavidin. "Monitoring" refers to recording changes in a continuously varying parameter.
"Biochip" refers to a solid substrate having a generally planar surface to which an adsorbent is attached. Frequently, the surface of the biochip comprises a plurality of addressable locations, each of which location has the adsorbent bound there. Biochips can be adapted to engage a probe interface, and therefore, function as probes. "Protein biochip" refers to a biochip adapted for the capture of polypeptides. Many protein biochips are described in the art. These include, for example, protein biochips produced by Ciphergen Biosystems (Fremont, CA), Packard BioScience Company (Meriden CT), Zyomyx (Hayward, CA) and Phylos (Lexington, MA). Examples of such protein biochips are described in the following patents or patent applications: U.S. Patent 6,225,047 (Hutchens and Yip, "Use of retentate chromatography to generate difference maps," May 1 , 2001); International publication WO 99/51773 (Kuimelis and Wagner, "Addressable protein arrays," October 14, 1999); U.S. Patent 6,329,209 (Wagner et al., "Arrays of protein-capture agents and methods of use thereof," December 1 1, 2001) and International publication WO 00/56934 (Englert et al., "Continuous porous matrix arrays," September 28, 2000). Protein biochips produced by Ciphergen Biosystems comprise surfaces having chromatographic or biospecific adsorbents attached thereto at addressable locations. Biochips are further described in: WO 00/66265 (Rich et al., "Probes for a Gas Phase Ion Spectrometer," November 9, 2000); WO 00/67293 (Beecher et al., "Sample Holder with Hydrophobic Coating for Gas Phase Mass Spectrometer," November 9, 2000); U.S. patent application US20030032043A1 (Pohl and Papanu, "Latex Based Adsorbent Chip," July 16, 2002) and U.S. patent application 60/350,1 10 (Um et al., "Hydrophobic Surface Chip," November 8, 2001).
Upon capture on a biochip, analytes can be detected by a variety of detection methods selected from, for example, a gas phase ion spectrometry method, an optical method, an electrochemical method, atomic force microscopy and a radio frequency method. Gas phase ion spectrometry methods are described herein. Of particular interest is the use of mass spectrometry, and in particular, SELDI. Optical methods include, for example, detection of fluorescence, luminescence, chemiluminescence, absorbance, reflectance, transmittance, birefringence or refractive index (e.g., surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry, a resonant mirror method, a grating coupler waveguide method or interferometry). Optical methods include microscopy (both confocal and non-confocal), imaging methods and non-imaging methods. Immunoassays in various formats (e.g., ELISA) are popular methods for detection of analytes captured on a solid phase. Electrochemical methods include voltametry and amperometry methods. Radio frequency methods include multipolar resonance spectroscopy.
"Marker" or "biomarker" in the context of the present invention refer to a polypeptide (of a particular apparent molecular weight)or nucleic acid, which is differentially present in a sample taken from subjects having human inflammatory bowel disease as compared to a comparable sample taken from control subjects (e.g., a person with a negative diagnosis or undetectable inflammatory bowel disease, normal or healthy subject). The term "biomarker" is used interchangeably with the term "marker." The biomarkers are identified by molecular mass in Daltons, and include the masses centered around the identified molecular masses for each marker.
The term "measuring" means methods which include detecting the presence or absence of marker(s) in the sample, quantifying the amount of marker(s) in the sample, and/or qualifying the type of biomarker. Measuring can be accomplished by methods known in the art and those further described herein, including but not limited to microarray analysis (with Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) software), SELDI and immunoassay. Any suitable methods can be used to detect and measure one or more of the markers described herein. These methods include, without limitation, mass spectrometry (e.g. , laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry), fluorescence (e.g. sandwich immunoassay), surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. "Detect" refers to identifying the presence, absence or amount of the object to be detected.
The phrase "differentially present" refers to differences in the quantity and/or the frequency of a marker present in a sample taken from subjects having human IBD as compared to a control subject. For example, some markers described herein are present at an elevated level in samples of subjects compared to samples from control subjects. In contrast, other markers described herein are present at a decreased level in samples of inflammatory bowel disease subjects compared to samples from control subjects. Furthermore, a marker can be a polypeptide, which is detected at a higher frequency or at a lower frequency in samples of human IBD subjects compared to samples of control subjects.
Furthermore, a marker can be a polypeptide, which is detected at a higher frequency or at a lower frequency in samples of unaffected tissue from human IBD subjects compared to samples affected tissue from human IBD subjects.
Furthermore, a marker can be a polypeptide, which is detected at a higher frequency or at a lower frequency in samples of human unaffected tissue from IBD subjects compared to samples of control subjects.
Furthermore, a marker can be a polypeptide, which is detected at a higher frequency or at a lower frequency in samples of human affected tissue from IBD subjects compared to samples of control subjects.
A marker can be differentially present in terms of quantity, frequency or both.
"Affected tissue," as used herein refers to tissue from and IBD subject that is grossly diseased tissue (tissue that is inflamed or shows fibrosis. "Unaffected tissue," as used herein refers to a tissue from an IBD subject that is from a portion of tissue that does not have gross disease present, for example tissue that is about 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 or more cm from grossly diseased tissue.
A polypeptide is differentially present between two samples if the amount of the polypeptide in one sample is statistically significantly different from the amount of the polypeptide in the other sample. For example, a polypeptide is differentially present between the two samples if it is present at least about 120%, at least about 130%, at least about 150%, at least about 180%, at least about 200%, at least about 300%, at least about 500%, at least about 700%, at least about 900%, or at least about 1000% greater than it is present in the other sample, or if it is detectable in one sample and not detectable in the other. Alternatively or additionally, a polypeptide is differentially present between two sets of samples if the frequency of detecting the polypeptide in the IBD subjects' samples is statistically significantly higher or lower than in the control samples. For example, a polypeptide is differentially present between the two sets of samples if it is detected at least about 120%, at least about 130%, at least about 150%, at least about 180%, at least about 200%, at least about 300%, at least about 500%, at least about 700%, at least about 900%, or at least about 1000% more frequently or less frequently observed in one set of samples than the other set of samples.
"Diagnostic" means identifying the presence or nature of a pathologic condition, i.e., inflammatory bowel disease. Diagnostic methods differ in their sensitivity and specificity. The "sensitivity" of a diagnostic assay is the percentage of diseased individuals who test positive (percent of "true positives"). Diseased individuals not detected by the assay are "false negatives." Subjects who are not diseased and who test negative in the assay, are termed "true negatives." The "specificity" of a diagnostic assay is 1 minus the false positive rate, where the "false positive" rate is defined as the proportion of those without the disease who test positive. While a particular diagnostic method may not provide a definitive diagnosis of a condition, it suffices if the method provides a positive indication that aids in diagnosis.
A "test amount" of a marker refers to an amount of a marker present in a sample being tested. A test amount can be either in absolute amount (e.g., μg/ml) or a relative amount (e.g. , relative intensity of signals).
A "diagnostic amount" of a marker refers to an amount of a marker in a subject's sample that is consistent with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. A diagnostic amount can be either in absolute amount (e.g., μg/ml) or a relative amount (e.g., relative intensity of signals). A "control amount" of a marker can be any amount or a range of amount, which is to be compared against a test amount of a marker. For example, a control amount of a marker can be the amount of a marker in a person without inflammatory bowel disease. A control amount can be either in absolute amount (e.g., μg/ml) or a relative amount (e.g., relative intensity of signals). As used herein, the term "sensitivity" is the percentage of subjects with a particular disease. For example, in the inflammatory bowel disease group, the biomarkers of the invention have a sensitivity of about 80.0%-98.6%, and preferably a sensitivity of 85%, 87.5%, 90%, 92.5%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99% or approaching 100%.
As used herein, the term "specificity" is the percentage of subjects correctly identified as having a particular disease i.e., normal or healthy subjects. For example, the specificity is calculated as the number of subjects with a particular disease as compared to non-IBD subjects (e.g., normal healthy subjects). The specificity of the assays described herein may range from about 80% to 100%. Preferably the specificity is about 90%, 95%, or 100%.
The terms "polypeptide," "peptide" and "protein" are used interchangeably herein to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues. The terms apply to amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acid residue is an analog or mimetic of a corresponding naturally occurring amino acid, as well as to naturally occurring amino acid polymers. Polypeptides can be modified, e.g., by the addition of carbohydrate residues to form glycoproteins. The terms "polypeptide," "peptide" and "protein" include glycoproteins, as well as non- glycoproteins. "Immunoassay" is an assay that uses an antibody to specifically bind an antigen (e.g., a marker). The immunoassay is characterized by the use of specific binding properties of a particular antibody to isolate, target, and/or quantify the antigen.
"Antibody" refers to a polypeptide ligand substantially encoded by an immunoglobulin gene or immunoglobulin genes, or fragments thereof, which specifically binds and recognizes an epitope {e.g., an antigen). The recognized immunoglobulin genes include the kappa and lambda light chain constant region genes, the alpha, gamma, delta, epsilon and mu heavy chain constant region genes, and the myriad immunoglobulin variable region genes. Antibodies exist, e.g., as intact immunoglobulins or as a number of well- characterized fragments produced by digestion with various peptidases. This includes, e.g., Fab1' and F(ab)!'2 fragments. The term "antibody," as used herein, also includes antibody fragments either produced by the modification of whole antibodies or those synthesized de novo using recombinant DNA methodologies. It also includes polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, chimeric antibodies, humanized antibodies, or single chain antibodies. "Fc" portion of an antibody refers to that portion of an immunoglobulin heavy chain that comprises one or more heavy chain constant region domains, CHi, CH2 and CH3, but does not include the heavy chain variable region.
The phrase "specifically (or selectively) binds" to an antibody or "specifically (or selectively) immunoreactive with," when referring to a protein or peptide, refers to a binding reaction that is determinative of the presence of the protein in a heterogeneous population of proteins and other biologies. Thus, under designated immunoassay conditions, the specified antibodies bind to a particular protein at least two times the background and do not substantially bind in a significant amount to other proteins present in the sample. Specific binding to an antibody under such conditions may require an antibody that is selected for its specificity for a particular protein. For example, polyclonal antibodies raised to marker "X" from specific species such as rat, mouse, or human can be selected to obtain only those polyclonal antibodies that are specifically immunoreactive with marker "X" and not with other proteins, except for polymorphic variants and alleles of marker "X". This selection may be achieved by subtracting out antibodies that cross-react with marker "X" molecules from other species. A variety of immunoassay formats may be used to select antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a particular protein. For example, solid-phase ELISA immunoassays are routinely used to select antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a protein {see, e.g., Harlow & Lane, Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual (1988), for a description of immunoassay formats and conditions that can be used to determine specific immunoreactivity). Typically a specific or selective reaction will be at least twice background signal or noise and more typically more than 10 to 100 times background.
"Managing subject treatment" refers to the behavior of the clinician or physician subsequent to the determination of IBD status. For example, if the result of the methods of the present invention is inconclusive or there is reason that confirmation of status is necessary, the physician may order more tests. Alternatively, if the status indicates that treatment is appropriate, the physician may schedule the patient for treatment, e.g., surgery, administer one or more therapeutic agents or radiation. Likewise, if the status is negative, e.g., late stage inflammatory bowel disease or if the status is acute, no further action may be warranted. Furthermore, if the results show that treatment has been successful, a maintenance therapy or no further management may be necessary.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BIOMARKERS Crohn's Disease Biomarkers
CD biomarkers include the proteins or their encoding nucleic acids for the following pathways or cellular processes: acute phase and innate immune response(IL-l and TNFα mediated induction of NF-κB), immune response, apoptosis, inflammatory cell recruitment pathways, inflammatory response (IL]B1 S100A8), antigen presentation (MHC class II immunoproteasome members PSME2 and PSMB8, MHC class II ATP-binding antigen peptide transporter TAPl, HLA-DMA and UBD of MHC class I), inflammatory cell chemotaxis (IL8, CXCLl, CXCL3), apoptosis (CASPl, CASPlO), macrophage activation (ASMT and interferon-regulated genes IFITMl, IFITM3, ISG20, IFB 5, SPIlO), leukocyte protection (LILRB encoding a receptor for class I MHC antigens), recruitment of inflammatory cells, acute phase response (ADM, STATl, STAT3, and protease inhibitors SERPINAl and SPINKl to prevent tissue destruction), and chemokine and interferon-γ responsive genes. Crohn's disease patients often require surgery due to obstruction, when disease may be well established and gene expression patterns rather static. Profiling of endoscopic biopsies provide the opportunity to interrogate all stages of disease. Secondly, since only a fraction of IBD patients require surgery, large numbers of IBD cases remain unexplored. Clinical sub grouping of CD is based on anatomic site of involvement (ileum only, colon only, or upper small bowel and colon)12 and disease behavior (inflammatory, stricturing, or fistulizing).13' 14
Pinch biopsies are collected during endoscopy for routine evaluation of disease activity by histology '5To furhter develop the methods of the invention, single endoscopic pinch biopsies were used from nine colonic Crohn's disease cases with mild to severe inflammation, five ulcerative colitis cases and four healthy controls. For each IBD case, expression patterns for a biopsy from an affected and one from an unaffected area (as judged during endoscopy) were obtained. Multidimensional scaling of the expression patterns distinguished IBD from healthy individuals, CD from UC, and also unaffected from healthy controls. Although, Crohn's colitis harbors some phenotypic overlaps with ulcerative colitis, the expression profiles identify a distinct set of differentially expressed genes, and distinct pathophysiologies, for each disease.
UC Biomarkers UC biomarkers include the proteins or their encoding nucleic acids for the following pathways or cellular processes: endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway members, protein- trafficking pathway members, and detoxification and cell growth pathway members.
Further UC biomarkers include the proteins or their encoding nucleic acids for the following pathways or cellular processes: up-regulations of complement cascade activation (BF and C4A), growth regulatory (MIA) and apoptosis (ATM) pathways, detoxification
(NNMT) and intracellular transport (SNX26) pathways; and down regulations of biosynthetic and metabolic processes (PANK3, HPGD), and endoplasmic reticulum-, Golgi- transport/intracellular trafficking (F2RL1, GABRG3, GNGTl, SLC4A4). Thirteen genes are over expressed in UC primarily and the two UC-like CD cases 33 and 53, roughly distinguishing UC from CD (Figure 3).
Resection of tissued shows different gene expression patterns than does biopsy of tissue. For example, UC patterns are quite dynamic showing multiple gene expression changes (REGlA, LCN2, NOS2, NNMT, for example).
Gene expression changes in UC, on the other hand, make a strong case for loss of epithelial homeostasis as being central to UC.
IBD Biomarkers IBD biomarkers include both the UC and CD biomarkers (see Tables 1 - 3) as well as the following genes and nucleic acids and proteins encoded by the following genes, as well as fragments and variants thereof: CASPlO at 2q33-34, HLA-DMA, TAPl, UBD, PSMB8 at 6p21.3, and PSME2 at 14ql 1.2. The sequences of these biomarkers are appended to the specification, as well as exemplary primers for amplifying the biomarkers. Nine genes are elevated in most CD and UC affected profiles and most likely contribute towards separation of IBD from normal controls in the MDS plot. These genes include several chemokine ligands produced by activated monocytes and neutrophils, indicative of an immune/inflammation process and seem to correlate well with the inflammation scoring of the samples by histology (e.g., Group 3) Certain overlaps evident between the CD and the UC over expressed gene signatures
(Table 2. lower panel), involve immune response, antigen presentation (IGHG4, GIPi, LCN2), complement function (C4BPB, DAF), antimicrobial (DEFA6) and general inflammatory response (NOS2A, S100A9, REGlA, PAP).
Further biomarkers for IBD include the proteins or their encoding nucleic acids for the following pathways or cellular processes: apoptosis -regulation (CASPlO, LILRB, 1 GNGTl (7q21.3)), antigen-presenting genes (PSME2), immunoproteasome for generating MHC class I binding antigenic peptides (IBD3, HLA-DMA, TAPl, UBD and PSMB8) , and Wnt-signaling (PRKACB (Ip36.1 , IBD7)).
Corresponding proteins or fragments of proteins for these biomarkers may be represented as intensity peaks in SELDI (surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization) protein chip/mass spectra with molecular masses centered around the values. As discussed above, Markers 1-75 also may be characterized based on affinity for an adsorbent, particularly binding to a cation-exchange or hydrophobic surface under the conditions specified in the Examples, which follow.
The above-identified biomarkers, are examples of biomarkers, as determined by identity, identified by the methods of the invention and serve merely as an illustrative example and are not meant to limit the invention in any way.
A major advantage of identification of these markers is their high specificity and ability to differentiate between different inflammatory bowel disease states (e.g., between UC and CD).
More specifically, the present invention is based upon the discovery of protein markers that are differentially present in samples of human inflammatory bowel disease subjects and control subjects, and the application of this discovery in methods and kits for aiding a human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis. Some of these protein markers are found at an elevated level and/or more frequently in samples from human inflammatory bowel disease subjects compared to a control (e.g., subjects with diseases other than inflammatory bowel disease). Accordingly, the amount of one or more markers found in a test sample compared to a control, or the mere detection of one or more markers in the test sample provides useful information regarding probability of whether a subject being tested has inflammatory bowel disease or not, and/or whether a subject being tested has a particular inflammatory bowel disease subtype or not. The protein of the present invention have a number of other uses. For example, the markers can be used to screen for compounds that modulate the expression of the markers in vitro or in vivo, which compounds in turn may be useful in treating or preventing human inflammatory bowel disease in subjects. In another example, markers can be used to monitor responses to certain treatments of human inflammatory bowel disease. In yet another example, the markers can be used in heredity studies. For instance, certain markers may be genetically linked. This can be determined by, e.g., analyzing samples from a population of human inflammatory bowel disease subjects whose families have a history of inflammatory bowel disease. The results can then be compared with data obtained from, e.g., inflammatory bowel disease subjects whose families do not have a history of inflammatory bowel disease. The markers that are genetically linked may be used as a tool to determine if a subject whose family has a history of inflammatory bowel disease is pre-disposed to having inflammatory bowel disease. In another aspect, the invention provides methods for detecting markers which are differentially present in the samples of an inflammatory bowel disease patient and a control (e.g., subjects in non-inflammatory bowel disease subjects). The markers can be detected in a number of biological samples. The sample is preferably a biological biopsy sample. Any suitable methods can be used to detect one or more of the markers described herein. These methods include, without limitation, mass spectrometry (e.g., laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry), fluorescence (e.g. sandwich immunoassay), surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. Methods may further include, by one or more of microarrays, PCR methods, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), ESI-MS/MS, ESI-MS/(MS)n, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS), desorption/ionization on silicon (DIOS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS), APCI-MS/MS, APCI-(MS)11, atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry (APPI-MS), APPI-MS/MS, and APPI-(MS).sub.n, quadrupole mass spectrometry, fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS), and ion trap mass spectrometry, where n is an integer greater than zero.
The following example is illustrative of the methods used to identify biomarkers for detection of inflammatory bowel disease. It is not meant to limit or construe the invention in any way. A sample, such as for example, serum from a subject or patient, is immobilized on a biochip. Preferably, the biochip comprises a functionalized, cross-linked polymer in the form of a hydrogel physically attached to the surface of the biochip or covalently attached through a silane to the surface of the biochip. However, any biochip which can bind samples from subjects can be used. The surfaces of the biochips are comprised of, for example, hydrophilic adsorbent to capture hydrophilic proteins (e.g. silicon oxide); carboimidizole functional groups that can react with groups on proteins for covalent binding; epoxide functional groups for covalent binding with proteins (e.g. antibodies, receptors, lectins, heparin, Protein A, biotin/streptavidin and the like); anionic exchange groups; cation exchange groups; metal chelators and the like.
Preferably, samples are pre-fractionated prior to immobilization as discussed below. Analytes or samples captured on the surface of a biochip can be detected by any method known in the art. This includes, for example, mass spectrometry, fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. Mass spectrometry, and particularly SELDI mass spectrometry, is a particularly useful method for detection of the biomarkers of this invention. Other methods include, chemical extraction partitioning, ion exchange chromatography, reverse phase liquid chromatography, isoelectric focusing, one- dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE), thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and any combination thereof.
Immobilized samples or analytes are preferably subjected to laser ionization and the intensity of signal for mass/charge ratio is detected. The data obtained from the mass/charge ratio signal is transformed into data which is read by any type of computer. An algorithm is executed by the computer user that classifies the data according to user input parameters for detecting signals that represent biomarkers present in, for example, inflammatory bowel disease subjects and are lacking in non-inflammatory bowel disease subject controls. The biomarkers are most preferably identified by their molecular weights.
TEST SAMPLES
SUBJECT TYPES
Samples are collected from subjects to establish inflammatory bowel disease status. The subjects may be subjects who have been determined to have a high risk of inflammatory bowel disease based on their family history, a previous treatment, subjects with physical symptoms known to be associated with inflammatory bowel disease, subjects identified through screening assays (e.g., sigmoidoscopy) or rectal digital exam or rigid or flexible colonoscopy or CT scan or other x-ray techniques. Other subjects include subjects who have inflammatory bowel disease and the test is being used to determine the effectiveness of therapy or treatment they are receiving. Also, subjects could include healthy people who are having a test as part of a routine examination, or to establish baseline levels of the biomarkers. Samples may be collected from subjects who had been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and received treatment to eliminate the inflammatory bowel disease, or perhaps are in remission. TYPES OF SAMPLE AND PREPARATION OF THE SAMPLE
The markers can be measured in different types of biological samples. The sample is preferably a biological tissue or fluid sample. Examples of biological tissue sample is a colon or intestinal biopsy sample, from for example a endoscopic examination. Examples of a biological fluid sample useful in this invention include blood, blood serum, plasma, vaginal secretions, urine, tears, saliva, urine, tissue, cells, organs, seminal fluids, bone marrow, cerebrospinal fluid, etc. Because the markers are found in intestinal and/or colon tissue, these are preferred sample sources for embodiments of the invention.
Nucleic acids may be obtained from the samples in many ways known to one of skill in the art. For example, extraction methods, including for example, solvent extraction, affinity purification and centrifugation. Selective precipitation can also purify nucleic acids. Chromatography methods may also be utilized including, gel filtration, ion exchange, selective adsorption, or affinity binding. The nucleic acids may be, for example, RNA, DNA or may be synthesized into cDNA. The nucleic acids may be detected using microarray techniques that are well known in the art, for example, Affymetrix arrays followed by multidimensional scaling techniques. See R. Ekins and F.W. Chu, Microarrays: their origins and applications. Trends in Biotechnology, 1999, 17, 217-218; D. D. Shoemaker, et al., Experimental annotation of the human genome using microarray technology, Nature Volume 409 Number 6822 Page 922 - 927 (2001) and US Patent 5,750,015.
The markers can be resolved in a sample by using a variety of techniques, e.g., nucleic acid chips, PCR, real time PCR, reverse transcriptase PCR, real time reverse transcriptase PCR, in situ PCR, chromatographic separation coupled with mass spectrometry, protein capture using immobilized antibodies or by traditional immunoassays.
Biomarker expression may also be by PCR methods, including for example, real time PCR. See for example, U.S. Patents 5,723,591; 5,801 ,155 and 6,084,102 and Higuchi, 1992 and 1993. PCR assays may be done, for example, in a multi-well plate formats or in chips, such as the BioTrove OpenArrayTM Chips (BioTrove, Woburn, MA). If desired, the sample can be prepared to enhance detectability of the markers. For example, to increase the detectability of markers, a blood serum sample from the subject can be preferably fractionated by, e.g., Cibacron blue agarose chromatography and single stranded DNA affinity chromatography, anion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography (e.g., with antibodies) and the like. The method of fractionation depends on the type of detection method used. Any method that enriches for the protein of interest can be used. Typically, preparation involves fractionation of the sample and collection of fractions determined to contain the biomarkers. Methods of pre-fractionation include, for example, size exclusion chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, heparin chromatography, affinity chromatography, sequential extraction, gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography. The analytes also may be modified prior to detection. These methods are useful to simplify the sample for further analysis. For example, it can be useful to remove high abundance proteins, such as albumin, from blood before analysis. In one embodiment, a sample can be pre-fractionated according to size of proteins in a sample using size exclusion chromatography. For a biological sample wherein the amount of sample available is small, preferably a size selection spin column is used. For example, a K30 spin column (available from Princeton Separation, Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc., etc.) can be used. In general, the first fraction that is eluted from the column ("fraction 1") has the highest percentage of high molecular weight proteins; fraction 2 has a lower percentage of high molecular weight proteins; fraction 3 has even a lower percentage of high molecular weight proteins; fraction 4 has the lowest amount of large proteins; and so on. Each fraction can then be analyzed by gas phase ion spectrometry for the detection of markers.
In another embodiment, a sample can be pre-fractionated by anion exchange chromatography. Anion exchange chromatography allows pre-fractionation of the proteins in a sample roughly according to their charge characteristics. For example, a Q anion-exchange resin can be used {e.g , Q HyperD F, Biosepra), and a sample can be sequentially eluted with eluants having different pH's. Anion exchange chromatography allows separation of biomolecules in a sample that are more negatively charged from other types of biomolecules. Proteins that are eluted with an eluant having a high pH is likely to be weakly negatively charged, and a fraction that is eluted with an eluant having a low pH is likely to be strongly negatively charged. Thus, in addition to reducing complexity of a sample, anion exchange chromatography separates proteins according to their binding characteristics.
In yet another embodiment, a sample can be pre-fractionated by heparin chromatography. Heparin chromatography allows pre-fractionation of the markers in a sample also on the basis of affinity interaction with heparin and charge characteristics. Heparin, a sulfated mucopolysaccharide, will bind markers with positively charged moieties and a sample can be sequentially eluted with eluants having different pH's or salt concentrations. Markers eluted with an eluant having a low pH are more likely to be weakly positively charged. Markers eluted with an eluant having a high pH are more likely to be strongly positively charged. Thus, heparin chromatography also reduces the complexity of a sample and separates markers according to their binding characteristics. In yet another embodiment, a sample can be pre-fractionated by removing proteins that are present in a high quantity or that may interfere with the detection of markers in a sample. For example, in a blood serum sample, serum albumin is present in a high quantity and may obscure the analysis of markers. Thus, a blood serum sample can be pre- fractionated by removing serum albumin. Serum albumin can be removed using a substrate that comprises adsorbents that specifically bind serum albumin. For example, a column which comprises, e.g. , Cibacron blue agarose (which has a high affinity for serum albumin) or anti-serum albumin antibodies can be used.
In yet another embodiment, a sample can be pre-fractionated by isolating proteins that have a specific characteristic, e.g. are glycosylated. For example, a blood serum sample can be fractionated by passing the sample over a lectin chromatography column (which has a high affinity for sugars). Glycosylated proteins will bind to the lectin column and non- glycosylated proteins will pass through the flow through. Glycosylated proteins are then eluted from the lectin column with an eluant containing a sugar, e.g., N-acetyl-glucosamine and are available for further analysis.
Many types of affinity adsorbents exist which are suitable for pre-fractionating blood serum samples. An example of one other type of affinity chromatography available to pre- fractionate a sample is a single stranded DNA spin column. These columns bind proteins which are basic or positively charged. Bound proteins are then eluted from the column using eluants containing denaturants or high pH.
Thus there are many ways to reduce the complexity of a sample based on the binding properties of the proteins in the sample, or the characteristics of the proteins in the sample.
In yet another embodiment, a sample can be fractionated using a sequential extraction protocol. In sequential extraction, a sample is exposed to a series of adsorbents to extract different types of biomolecules from a sample. For example, a sample is applied to a first adsorbent to extract certain proteins, and an eluant containing non-adsorbent proteins (i.e., proteins that did not bind to the first adsorbent) is collected. Then, the fraction is exposed to a second adsorbent. This further extracts various proteins from the fraction. This second fraction is then exposed to a third adsorbent, and so on. Any suitable materials and methods can be used to perform sequential extraction of a sample. For example, a series of spin columns comprising different adsorbents can be used. In another example, a multi-well comprising different adsorbents at its bottom can be used. In another example, sequential extraction can be performed on a probe adapted for use in a gas phase ion spectrometer, wherein the probe surface comprises adsorbents for binding biomolecules. In this embodiment, the sample is applied to a first adsorbent on the probe, which is subsequently washed with an eluant. Markers that do not bind to the first adsorbent is removed with an eluant. The markers that are in the fraction can be applied to a second adsorbent on the probe, and so forth. The advantage of performing sequential extraction on a gas phase ion spectrometer probe is that markers that bind to various adsorbents at every stage of the sequential extraction protocol can be analyzed directly using a gas phase ion spectrometer. In yet another embodiment, biomolecules in a sample can be separated by high- resolution electrophoresis, e.g., one or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. A fraction containing a marker can be isolated and further analyzed by gas phase ion spectrometry. Preferably, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is used to generate two-dimensional array of spots of biomolecules, including one or more markers. See, e.g., Jungblut and Thiede, Mass Spectr. Rev. 16: 145-162 (1997).
The two-dimensional gel electrophoresis can be performed using methods known in the art. See, e.g., Deutscher ed., Methods In Enzymology vol. 182. Typically, biomolecules in a sample are separated by, e.g., isoelectric focusing, during which biomolecules in a sample are separated in a pH gradient until they reach a spot where their net charge is zero (i.e., isoelectric point). This first separation step results in one-dimensional array of biomolecules. The biomolecules in one- dimensional array is further separated using a technique generally distinct from that used in the first separation step. For example, in the second dimension, biomolecules separated by isoelectric focusing are further separated using a polyacrylamide gel, such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE). SDS-PAGE gel allows further separation based on molecular mass of biomolecules. Typically, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis can separate chemically different biomolecules in the molecular mass range from 1000-200,000 Da within complex mixtures.
Biomolecules in the two-dimensional array can be detected using any suitable methods known in the art. For example, biomolecules in a gel can be labeled or stained (e.g., Coomassie Blue or silver staining). If gel electrophoresis generates spots that correspond to the molecular weight of one or more markers of the invention, the spot can be is further analyzed by gas phase ion spectrometry. For example, spots can be excised from the gel and analyzed by gas phase ion spectrometry. Alternatively, the gel containing biomolecules can be transferred to an inert membrane by applying an electric field. Then a spot on the membrane that approximately corresponds to the molecular weight of a marker can be analyzed by gas phase ion spectrometry. In gas phase ion spectrometry, the spots can be analyzed using any suitable techniques, such as MALDI or SELDI (e.g., using ProteinChip " array) as described in detail below.
Prior to gas phase ion spectrometry analysis, it may be desirable to cleave biomolecules in the spot into smaller fragments using cleaving reagents, such as proteases (e.g., trypsin). The digestion of biomolecules into small fragments provides a mass fingerprint of the biomolecules in the spot, which can be used to determine the identity of markers if desired.
In yet another embodiment, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can-be used to separate a mixture of biomolecules in a sample based on their different physical properties, such as polarity, charge and size. HPLC instruments typically consist of a reservoir of mobile phase, a pump, an injector, a separation column, and a detector. Biomolecules in a sample are separated by injecting an aliquot of the sample onto the column. Different biomolecules in the mixture pass through the column at different rates due to differences in their partitioning behavior between the mobile liquid phase and the stationary phase. A fraction that corresponds to the molecular weight and/or physical properties of one or more markers can be collected. The fraction can then be analyzed by gas phase ion spectrometry to detect markers. For example, the spots can be analyzed using either MALDI or SELDI (e.g., using ProteinChip array) as described in detail below.
Optionally, a marker can be modified before analysis to improve its resolution or to determine its identity. For example, the markers may be subject to proteolytic digestion before analysis. Any protease can be used. Proteases, such as trypsin, that are likely to cleave the markers into a discrete number of fragments are particularly useful. The fragments that result from digestion function as a fingerprint for the markers, thereby enabling their detection indirectly. This is particularly useful where there are markers with similar molecular masses that might be confused for the marker in question. Also, proteolytic fragmentation is useful for high molecular weight markers because smaller markers are more easily resolved by mass spectrometry. In another example, biomolecules can be modified to improve detection resolution. For instance, neuraminidase can be used to remove terminal sialic acid residues from glycoproteins to improve binding to an anionic adsorbent (e.g., cationic exchange ProteinChip® arrays) and to improve detection resolution. In another example, the markers can be modified by the attachment of a tag of particular molecular weight that specifically bind to molecular markers, further distinguishing them. Optionally, after detecting such modified markers, the identity of the markers can be further determined by matching the physical and chemical characteristics of the modified markers in a protein database (e.g., SwissProt).
DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT OF MARKERS
Once captured on a substrate, e.g., biochip or antibody, any suitable method can be used to measure a marker or markers in a sample. For example, markers can be detected and/or measured by a variety of detection methods including for example, gas phase ion spectrometry methods, optical methods, electrochemical methods, atomic force microscopy, radio frequency methods, surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. SELDI
One preferred method of detection and/or measurement of the biomarkers uses mass spectrometry, and in particular, "Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization" or "SELDI". SELDI refers to a method of desorption/ionization gas phase ion spectrometry (e.g., mass spectrometry) in which the analyte is captured on the surface of a SELDI probe that engages the probe interface. In "SELDI MS," the gas phase ion spectrometer is a mass spectrometer. SELDI technology is described in more detail above and as follows.
Preferably, a laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometer is used in embodiments of the invention. In laser desorption mass spectrometry, a substrate or a probe comprising markers is introduced into an inlet system. The markers are desorbed and ionized into the gas phase by laser from the ionization source. The ions generated are collected by an ion optic assembly, and then in a time-of-flight mass analyzer, ions are accelerated through a short high voltage field and let drift into a high vacuum chamber. At the far end of the high vacuum chamber, the accelerated ions strike a sensitive detector surface at a different time. Since the time-of-flight is a function of the mass of the ions, the elapsed time between ion formation and ion detector impact can be used to identify the presence or absence of markers of specific mass to charge ratio. Markers on the substrate surface can be desorbed and ionized using gas phase ion spectrometry. Any suitable gas phase ion spectrometers can be used as long as it allows markers on the substrate to be resolved. Preferably, gas phase ion spectrometers allow quantitation of markers. In one embodiment, a gas phase ion spectrometer is a mass spectrometer. In a typical mass spectrometer, a substrate or a probe comprising markers on its surface is introduced into an inlet system of the mass spectrometer. The markers are then desorbed by a desorption source such as a laser, fast atom bombardment, high energy plasma, electrospray ionization, thermospray ionization, liquid secondary ion MS, field desorption, etc. The generated desorbed, volatilized species consist of preformed ions or neutrals which are ionized as a direct consequence of the desorption event. Generated ions are collected by an ion optic assembly, and then a mass analyzer disperses and analyzes the passing ions. The ions exiting the mass analyzer are detected by a detector. The detector then translates information of the detected ions into mass-to-charge ratios. Detection of the presence of markers or other substances will typically involve detection of signal intensity. This, in turn, can reflect the quantity and character of markers bound to the substrate. Any of the components of a mass spectrometer {e.g., a desorption source, a mass analyzer, a detector, etc.) can be combined with other suitable components described herein or others known in the art in embodiments of the invention. Preferably, a laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometer is used in embodiments of the invention. In laser desorption mass spectrometry, a substrate or a probe comprising markers is introduced into an inlet system. The markers are desorbed and ionized into the gas phase by laser from the ionization source. The ions generated are collected by an ion optic assembly, and then in a time-of-flight mass analyzer, ions are accelerated through a short high voltage field and let drift into a high vacuum chamber. At the far end of the high vacuum chamber, the accelerated ions strike a sensitive detector surface at a different time. Since the time-of-flight is a function of the mass of the ions, the elapsed time between ion formation and ion detector impact can be used to identify the presence or absence of markers of specific mass to charge ratio. In another embodiment, an ion mobility spectrometer can be used to detect markers.
The principle of ion mobility spectrometry is based on different mobility of ions. Specifically, ions of a sample produced by ionization move at different rates, due to their difference in, e.g. , mass, charge, or shape, through a tube under the influence of an electric field. The ions (typically in the form of a current) are registered at the detector which can then be used to identify a marker or other substances in a sample. One advantage of ion mobility spectrometry is that it can operate at atmospheric pressure.
In yet another embodiment, a total ion current measuring device can be used to detect and characterize markers. This device can be used when the substrate has a only a single type of marker. When a single type of marker is on the substrate, the total current generated from the ionized marker reflects the quantity and other characteristics of the marker. The total ion current produced by the marker can then be compared to a control (e.g., a total ion current of a known compound). The quantity or other characteristics of the marker can then be determined.
IMMUNOASSAY
In another embodiment, an immunoassay can be used to detect and analyze markers in a sample. This method comprises: (a) providing an antibody that specifically binds to a marker; (b) contacting a sample with the antibody; and (c) detecting the presence of a complex of the antibody bound to the marker in the sample.
An immunoassay is an assay that uses an antibody to specifically bind an antigen (e.g., a marker). The immunoassay is characterized by the use of specific binding properties of a particular antibody to isolate, target, and/or quantify the antigen. The phrase "specifically (or selectively) binds" to an antibody or "specifically (or selectively) immunoreactive with," when referring to a protein or peptide, refers to a binding reaction that is determinative of the presence of the protein in a heterogeneous population of proteins and other biologies. Thus, under designated immunoassay conditions, the specified antibodies bind to a particular protein at least two times the background and do not substantially bind in a significant amount to other proteins present in the sample. Specific binding to an antibody under such conditions may require an antibody that is selected for its specificity for a particular protein. For example, polyclonal antibodies raised to a marker from specific species such as rat, mouse, or human can be selected to obtain only those polyclonal antibodies that are specifically immunoreactive with that marker and not with other proteins, except for polymorphic variants and alleles of the marker. This selection may be achieved by subtracting out antibodies that cross-react with the marker molecules from other species.
Using the purified markers or their nucleic acid sequences, antibodies that specifically bind to a marker can be prepared using any suitable methods known in the art. See, e.g., Coligan, Current Protocols in Immunology (1991); Harlow & Lane, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual (1988); Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies : Principles and Practice (2d ed. 1986); and Kohler & Milstein, Nature 256:495-497 (1975). Such techniques include, but are not limited to, antibody preparation by selection of antibodies from libraries of recombinant antibodies in phage or similar vectors, as well as preparation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies by immunizing rabbits or mice {see, e.g., Huse et ai, Science 246: 1275-1281 (1989); Ward et ah, Nature 341 :544-546 (1989)). Typically a specific or selective reaction will be at least twice background signal or noise and more typically more than 10 to 100 times background. Generally, a sample obtained from a subject can be contacted with the antibody that specifically binds the marker. Optionally, the antibody can be fixed to a solid support to facilitate washing and subsequent isolation of the complex, prior to contacting the antibody with a sample. Examples of solid supports include glass or plastic in the form of, e.g., a microtiter plate, a stick, a bead, or a microbead. Antibodies can also be attached to a probe substrate or ProteinChip® array described above. The sample is preferably a biological fluid sample taken from a subject. Examples of biological fluid samples include blood, serum, plasma, nipple aspirate, urine, tears, saliva etc. In a preferred embodiment, the biological fluid comprises blood serum. The sample can be diluted with a suitable eluant before contacting the sample to the antibody. After incubating the sample with antibodies, the mixture is washed and the antibody- marker complex formed can be detected. This can be accomplished by incubating the washed mixture with a detection reagent. This detection reagent may be, e.g., a second antibody which is labeled with a detectable label. Exemplary detectable labels include magnetic beads {e.g., DYNABEADST ), fluorescent dyes, radiolabels, enzymes {e.g., horse radish peroxide, alkaline phosphatase and others commonly used in an ELISA), and colorimetric labels such as colloidal gold or colored glass or plastic beads. Alternatively, the marker in the sample can be detected using an indirect assay, wherein, for example, a second, labeled antibody is used to detect bound marker-specific antibody, and/or in a competition or inhibition assay wherein, for example, a monoclonal antibody which binds to a distinct epitope of the marker is incubated simultaneously with the mixture.
Methods for measuring the amount of, or presence of, antibody-marker complex include, for example, detection of fluorescence, luminescence, chemiluminescence, absorbance, reflectance, transmittance, birefringence or refractive index (e.g., surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry, a resonant mirror method, a grating coupler waveguide method or interferometry). Optical methods include microscopy (both confocal and non- confocal), imaging methods and non-imaging methods. Electrochemical methods include voltametry and amperometry methods. Radio frequency methods include multipolar resonance spectroscopy. Methods for performing these assays are readily known in the art. Useful assays include, for example, an enzyme immune assay (EIA) such as en2yme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a radioimmune assay (RIA), a Western blot assay, or a slot blot assay. These methods are also described in, e.g., Methods in Cell Biology: Antibodies in Cell Biology, volume 37 (Asai, ed. 1993); Basic and Clinical Immunology (Stites & Terr, eds., 7th ed. 1991); and Harlow & Lane, supra.
Throughout the assays, incubation and/or washing steps may be required after each combination of reagents. Incubation steps can vary from about 5 seconds to several hours, preferably from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours. However, the incubation time will depend upon the assay format, marker, volume of solution, concentrations and the like. Usually the assays will be carried out at ambient temperature, although they can be conducted over a range of temperatures, such as 100C to 400C.
Immunoassays can be used to determine presence or absence of a marker in a sample as well as the quantity of a marker in a sample. The amount of an antibody-marker complex can be determined by comparing to a standard. A standard can be, e.g., a known compound or another protein known to be present in a sample. As noted above, the test amount of marker need not be measured in absolute units, as long as the unit of measurement can be compared to a control.
The methods for detecting these markers in a sample have many applications. For example, one or more markers can be measured to aid humaninflammatory bowel disease diagnosis or prognosis. In another example, the methods for detection of the markers can be used to monitor responses in a subject to inflammatory bowel disease treatment. In another example, the methods for detecting markers can be used to assay for and to identify compounds that modulate expression of these markers in vivo or in vitro. In a preferred example, the biomarkers are used to differentiate between the different stages of tumor progression, thus aiding in determining appropriate treatment and extent of metastasis of the tumor. USE OF MODIFIED FORMS OF A BIOMARKER
It has been found that proteins frequently exist in a sample in a plurality of different forms characterized by a detectably different mass. These forms can result from either, or both, of pre- and post-translational modification. Pre-translational modified forms include allelic variants, slice variants and RNA editing forms. Post-translationally modified forms include forms resulting from proteolytic cleavage (e.g., fragments of a parent protein), glycosylation, phosphorylation, lipidation, oxidation, methylation, cystinylation, sulphonation and acetylation. The collection of proteins including a specific protein and all modified forms of it is referred to herein as a "protein cluster." The collection of all modified forms of a specific protein, excluding the specific protein, itself, is referred to herein as a "modified protein cluster." Modified forms of any biomarker of this invention (including any of Markers I through XIII) also may be used, themselves, as biomarkers. In certain cases the modified forms may exhibit better discriminatory power in diagnosis than the specific forms set forth herein. Modified forms of a biomarker including any of Markers 1 -75 can be initially detected by any methodology that can detect and distinguish the modified from the biomarker. A preferred method for initial detection involves first capturing the biomarker and modified forms of it, e.g., with biospecific capture reagents, and then detecting the captured proteins by mass spectrometry. More specifically, the proteins are captured using biospecific capture reagents, such as antibodies, aptamers or Affibodies that recognize the biomarker and modified forms of it. This method also will also result in the capture of protein interactors that are bound to the proteins or that are otherwise recognized by antibodies and that, themselves, can be biomarkers. Preferably, the biospecific capture reagents are bound to a solid phase. Then, the captured proteins can be detected by SELDI mass spectrometry or by eluting the proteins from the capture reagent and detecting the eluted proteins by traditional MALDI or by SELDI. The use of mass spectrometry is especially attractive because it can distinguish and quantify modified forms of a protein based on mass and without the need for labeling.
Preferably, the biospecific capture reagent is bound to a solid phase, such as a bead, a plate, a membrane or a chip. Methods of coupling biomolecules, such as antibodies, to a solid phase are well known in the art. They can employ, for example, bifunctional linking agents, or the solid phase can be derivatized with a reactive group, such as an epoxide or an imidizole, that will bind the molecule on contact. Biospecific capture reagents against different target proteins can be mixed in the same place, or they can be attached to solid phases in different physical or addressable locations. For example, one can load multiple columns with derivatized beads, each column able to capture a single protein cluster. Alternatively, one can pack a single column with different beads derivatized with capture reagents against a variety of protein clusters, thereby capturing all the analytes in a single place. Accordingly, antibody-derivatized bead-based technologies, such as xMAP technology of Luminex (Austin, TX) can be used to detect the protein clusters. However, the biospecific capture reagents must be specifically directed toward the members of a cluster in order to differentiate them. In yet another embodiment, the surfaces of biochips can be derivatized with the capture reagents directed against protein clusters either in the same location or in physically different addressable locations. One advantage of capturing different clusters in different addressable locations is that the analysis becomes simpler.
After identification of modified forms of a protein and correlation with the clinical parameter of interest, the modified form can be used as a biomarker in any of the methods of this invention. At this point, detection of the modified from can be accomplished by any specific detection methodology including affinity capture followed by mass spectrometry, or traditional immunoassay directed specifically the modified form. Immunoassay requires biospecific capture reagents, such as antibodies, to capture the analytes. Furthermore, if the assay must be designed to specifically distinguish protein and modified forms of protein. This can be done, for example, by employing a sandwich assay in which one antibody captures more than one form and second, distinctly labeled antibodies, specifically bind, and provide distinct detection of, the various forms. Antibodies can be produced by immunizing animals with the biomolecules. This invention contemplates traditional immunoassays including, for example, sandwich immunoassays including ELISA or fluorescence-based immunoassays, as well as other enzyme immunoassays.
DATA ANALYSIS
The methods for detecting these markers in a sample have many applications. For example, one or more markers can be measured to aid human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis or prognosis. In another example, the methods for detection of the markers can be used to monitor responses in a subject to inflammatory bowel disease treatment. In another example, the methods for detecting markers can be used to assay for and to identify compounds that modulate expression of these markers in vivo or in vitro.
Differentiation of non-inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory bowel disease status may be by the detection of one or more of the Markers listed in Tables 1 - 3 or the Markers described as proteins or pathways for IBD, UC, or CD. For example, an exemplary marker that may independently discriminate between colorectal and non-colorectal status is Markers 1- 75. Combinations of markers are also useful in the methods of the invention for the discrimination of on-inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory bowel disease status, for example, , Markers may also be used to discriminate or distinguish or diagnose between UC and CD and between unaffected and affected tissue of a UC and/or CD subject.
Markers may be detected, determined, monitored in a sample by molecular biological methods, including, arrays (nucleic acid, protein), PCR methods (real-time, reverse transcriptase, PCR).
Detection of markers can be analyzed using any suitable means, including arrays. Nucleic acid arrays may be analyzed using software, for example, Applied Maths, Belgium. GenExplore™ : 2-way cluster analysis, principal component analysis, discriminant analysis, self-organizing maps; BioDiscovery, Inc., Los Angeles, California (ImaGene™, special image processing and data extraction software, powered by MatLab®; GeneSight: hierarchical clustering, artificial neural network (SOM?), principal component analysis, time series; AutoGene™; CloneTracker™); GeneData AG (Basel, Switzerland); Molecular Pattern Recognition web site at MIT's Whitehead Genome Center; Rosetta Inpharmatics, Kirkland, Washington. Resolver™ Expression Data Analysis System; Scanalytics, Inc. , Fairfax, VA. Its MicroArray Suite enables researchers to acquire, visualize, process, and analyze gene expression microarray data; TIGR (The Institute for Genome Research) offers software tools (free for academic institutions) for array analysis. For example, see also Eisen MB, Brown PO., Methods Enzymol. 1999;303:179-205.
Detection of markers can be analyzed using any suitable means. In one embodiment, data generated, for example, by desorption is analyzed with the use of a programmable digital computer. The computer program generally contains a readable medium that stores codes. Certain code can be devoted to memory that includes the location of each feature on a probe, the identity of the adsorbent at that feature and the elution conditions used to wash the adsorbent. The computer also contains code that receives as input, data on the strength of the signal at various molecular masses received from a particular addressable location on the probe. This data can indicate the number of markers detected, including the strength of the signal generated by each marker.
Data analysis can include the steps of determining signal strength (e.g., height of peaks) of a marker detected and removing "outliers" (data deviating from a predetermined statistical distribution). The observed peaks can be normalized, a process whereby the height of each peak relative to some reference is calculated. For example, a reference can be background noise generated by instrument and chemicals (e.g., energy absorbing molecule) which is set as zero in the scale. Then the signal strength detected for each marker or other biomolecules can be displayed in the form of relative intensities in the scale desired (e.g., 100). Alternatively, a standard (e.g., a serum protein) may be admitted with the sample so that a peak from the standard can be used as a reference to calculate relative intensities of the signals observed for each marker or other markers detected.
The computer can transform the resulting data into various formats for displaying. In one format, referred to as "spectrum view or retentate map," a standard spectral view can be displayed, wherein the view depicts the quantity of marker reaching the detector at each particular molecular weight. In another format, referred to as "peak map," only the peak height and mass information are retained from the spectrum view, yielding a cleaner image and enabling markers with nearly identical molecular weights to be more easily seen. In yet another format, referred to as "gel view," each mass from the peak view can be converted into a grayscale image based on the height of each peak, resulting in an appearance similar to bands on electrophoretic gels. In yet another format, referred to as "3-D overlays," several spectra can be overlaid to study subtle changes in relative peak heights. In yet another format, referred to as "difference map view," two or more spectra can be compared, conveniently highlighting unique markers and markers which are up- or down-regulated between samples. Marker profiles (spectra) from any two samples may be compared visually. In yet another format, Spotfϊre Scatter Plot can be used, wherein markers that are detected are plotted as a dot in a plot, wherein one axis of the plot represents the apparent molecular of the markers detected and another axis represents the signal intensity of markers detected. For each sample, markers that are detected and the amount of markers present in the sample can be saved in a computer readable medium. This data can then be compared to a control (e.g., a profile or quantity of markers detected in control, e.g., men in whom human inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable). When the sample is measured and data is generated, e.g., by mass spectrometry, the data is then analyzed by a computer software program. Generally, the software can comprise code that converts signal from the mass spectrometer into computer readable form. The software also can include code that applies an algorithm to the analysis of the signal to determine whether the signal represents a "peak" in the signal corresponding to a marker of this invention, or other useful markers. The software also can include code that executes an algorithm that compares signal from a test sample to a typical signal characteristic of "normal" and human IBD and determines the closeness of fit between the two signals. The software also can include code indicating which the test sample is closest to, thereby providing a probable diagnosis.
In preferred methods of the present invention, multiple biomarkers are measured. The use of multiple biomarkers increases the predictive value of the test and provides greater utility in diagnosis, toxicology, patient stratification and patient monitoring. The process called "Pattern recognition" detects the patterns formed by multiple biomarkers greatly improves the sensitivity and specificity of clinical proteomics for predictive medicine. Subtle variations in data from clinical samples, e.g., obtained using SELDI, indicate that certain patterns of protein expression can predict phenotypes such as the presence or absence of a certain disease, a particular stage of IBD-progression, or a positive or adverse response to drug treatments. Data generation in mass spectrometry begins with the detection of ions by an ion detector as described above. Ions that strike the detector generate an electric potential that is digitized by a high speed time-array recording device that digitally captures the analog signal. Ciphergen's ProteinChip system employs an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to accomplish this. The ADC integrates detector output at regularly spaced time intervals into time-dependent bins. The time intervals typically are one to four nanoseconds long.
Furthermore, the time-of-flight spectrum ultimately analyzed typically does not represent the signal from a single pulse of ionizing energy against a sample, but rather the sum of signals from a number of pulses. This reduces noise and increases dynamic range. This time-of- flight data is then subject to data processing. In Ciphergen's ProteinChip® software, data processing typically includes TOF-to-M/Z transformation, baseline subtraction, high frequency noise filtering.
TOF-to-M/Z transformation involves the application of an algorithm that transforms times-of-flight into mass-to-charge ratio (M/Z). In this step, the signals are converted from the time domain to the mass domain. That is, each time-of-flight is converted into mass-to- charge ratio, or M/Z. Calibration can be done internally or externally. In internal calibration, the sample analyzed contains one or more analytes of known M/Z. Signal peaks at times-of- flight representing these massed analytes are assigned the known M/Z. Based on these assigned M/Z ratios, parameters are calculated for a mathematical function that converts times-of-flight to M/Z. In external calibration, a function that converts times-of-flight to M/Z, such as one created by prior internal calibration, is applied to a time-of-flight spectrum without the use of internal calibrants.
Baseline subtraction improves data quantification by eliminating artificial, reproducible instrument offsets that perturb the spectrum. It involves calculating a spectrum baseline using an algorithm that incorporates parameters such as peak width, and then subtracting the baseline from the mass spectrum.
High frequency noise signals are eliminated by the application of a smoothing function. A typical smoothing function applies a moving average function to each time- dependent bin. In an improved version, the moving average filter is a variable width digital filter in which the bandwidth of the filter varies as a function of, e.g., peak bandwidth, generally becoming broader with increased time-of-flight. See, e.g., WO 00/70648, November 23, 2000 (Gavin et al., "Variable Width Digital Filter for Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry"). Analysis generally involves the identification of peaks in the spectrum that represent signal from an analyte. Peak selection can, of course, be done by eye. However, software is available as part of Ciphergen's ProteinChip® software that can automate the detection of peaks. In general, this software functions by identifying signals having a signal-to-noise ratio above a selected threshold and labeling the mass of the peak at the centroid of the peak signal. In one useful application many spectra are compared to identify identical peaks present in some selected percentage of the mass spectra. One version of this software clusters all peaks appearing in the various spectra within a defined mass range, and assigns a mass (M/Z) to all the peaks that are near the mid-point of the mass (M/Z) cluster.
Peak data from one or more spectra can be subject to further analysis by, for example, creating a spreadsheet in which each row represents a particular mass spectrum, each column represents a peak in the spectra defined by mass, and each cell includes the intensity of the peak in that particular spectrum. Various statistical or pattern recognition approaches can applied to the data.
The spectra that are generated in embodiments of the invention can be classified using a pattern recognition process that uses a classification model. In some embodiments, data derived from the spectra (e.g., mass spectra or time-of-flight spectra) that are generated using samples such as "known samples" can then be used to "train" a classification model. A "known sample" is a sample that is pre-classified (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease or not inflammatory bowel disease). Data derived from the spectra (e.g., mass spectra or time-of- flight spectra) that are generated using samples such as "known samples" can then be used to "train" a classification model. A "known sample" is a sample that is pre -classified. The data that are derived from the spectra and are used to form the classification model can be referred to as a "training data set". Once trained, the classification model can recognize patterns in data derived from spectra generated using unknown samples. The classification model can then be used to classify the unknown samples into classes. This can be useful, for example, in predicting whether or not a particular biological sample is associated with a certain biological condition (e.g., diseased vs. non diseased).
The training data set that is used to form the classification model may comprise raw data or pre-processed data. In some embodiments, raw data can be obtained directly from time-of-flight spectra or mass spectra, and then may be optionally "pre-processed" in any suitable manner. For example, signals above a predetermined signal-to-noise ratio can be selected so that a subset of peaks in a spectrum is selected, rather than selecting all peaks in a spectrum. In another example, a predetermined number of peak "clusters" at a common value (e.g., a particular time-of-flight value or mass-to-charge ratio value) can be used to select peaks. Illustratively, if a peak at a given mass-to-charge ratio is in less than 50% of the mass spectra in a group of mass spectra, then the peak at that mass-to-charge ratio can be omitted from the training data set. Pre-processing steps such as these can be used to reduce the amount of data that is used to train the classification model.
Classification models can be formed using any suitable statistical classification (or "learning") method that attempts to segregate bodies of data into classes based on objective parameters present in the data. Classification methods may be either supervised or unsupervised. Examples of supervised and unsupervised classification processes are described in Jain, "Statistical Pattern Recognition: A Review", IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 22, No. 1, January 2000, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
In supervised classification, training data containing examples of known categories are presented to a learning mechanism, which learns one more sets of relationships that define each of the known classes. New data may then be applied to the learning mechanism, which then classifies the new data using the learned relationships. Examples of supervised classification processes include linear regression processes (e.g., multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least squares (PLS) regression and principal components regression (PCR)), binary decision trees (e.g., recursive partitioning processes such as CART - classification and regression trees), artificial neural networks such as backpropagation networks, discriminant analyses (e.g., Bayesian classifier or Fischer analysis), logistic classifiers, and support vector classifiers (support vector machines).
A preferred supervised classification method is a recursive partitioning process. Recursive partitioning processes use recursive partitioning trees to classify spectra derived from unknown samples. Further details about recursive partitioning processes are provided in U.S. 2002 0138208 Al (Paulse et al., "Method for analyzing mass spectra," September 26, 2002.
In other embodiments, the classification models that are created can be formed using unsupervised learning methods. Unsupervised classification attempts to learn classifications based on similarities in the training data set, without pre classifying the spectra from which the training data set was derived. Unsupervised learning methods include cluster analyses. A cluster analysis attempts to divide the data into "clusters" or groups that ideally should have members that are very similar to each other, and very dissimilar to members of other clusters. Similarity is then measured using some distance metric, which measures the distance between data items, and clusters together data items that are closer to each other. Clustering techniques include the MacQueen!'s K-means algorithm and the Kohonen!'s Self-Organizing Map algorithm.
Learning algorithms asserted for use in classifying biological information are described in, for example, WO 01/31580 (Barnhill et al., "Methods and devices for identifying patterns in biological systems and methods of use thereof," May 3, 2001); U.S. 2002/0193950 Al (Gavin et al., "Method or analyzing mass spectra," December 19, 2002); U.S. 2003/0004402 Al (Hitt et al., "Process for discriminating between biological states based on hidden patterns from biological data," January 2, 2003); and U.S. 2003/ 0055615 Al (Zhang and Zhang, "Systems and methods for processing biological expression data" March 20, 2003).
More specifically, to obtain the biomarkers the peak intensity data of samples from subjects, e.g., IBD subjects, and healthy controls are used as a "discovery set." This data were combined and randomly divided into a training set and a test set to construct and test multivariate predictive models using a non-linear version of Unified Maximum Separability Analysis ("USMA") classifiers. Details of USMA classifiers are described in U.S. 2003/0055615 Al .
The invention provides methods for aiding a human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis using one or more markers, for example Markers in the tables and figures which follow, and including one or more Markers 1-75 as specified herein. These markers can be used alone, in combination with other markers in any set, or with entirely different markers in aiding human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis. The markers are differentially present in samples of a human inflammatory bowel disease patient and a normal subject in whom human inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable. For example, some of the markers are expressed at an elevated level and/or are present at a higher frequency in human inflammatory bowel disease subjects than in normal subjects, while some of the markers are expressed at a decreased level and/or are present at a lower frequency in human inflammatory bowel disease subjects than in normal subjects. Therefore, detection of one or more of these markers in a person would provide useful information regarding the probability that the person may have inflammatory bowel disease.
Differentiation between normal and unaffected disease tissue The invention provides methods for aiding a human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis using one or more markers, for example Markers in the tables and figures which follow, and including one or more Markers 1 -75 as specified herein. These markers can be used alone, in combination with other markers in any set, or with entirely different markers in aiding human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis. The markers are differentially present in samples of a human inflammatory bowel disease patient and a normal subject in whom human inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable. For example, some of the markers are expressed at an elevated level and/or are present at a higher frequency in human inflammatory bowel disease subjects than in normal subjects, while some of the markers are expressed at a decreased level and/or are present at a lower frequency in human inflammatory bowel disease subjects than in normal subjects. Therefore, detection of one or more of these markers in a person would provide useful information regarding the probability that the person may have inflammatory bowel disease.
In a preferred embodiment, a biological sample is collected from a patient and then either left unfractionated, or fractionated using an anion exchange resin as described above. The biomarkers in the sample are captured using an ProteinChip array. The markers are then detected using SELDI. The results are then entered into a computer system, which contains an algorithm that is designed using the same parameters that were used in the learning algorithm and classification algorithm to originally determine the biomarkers. The algorithm produces a diagnosis based upon the data received relating to each biomarker.
The diagnosis is determined by examining the data produced from the tests with algorithms that are developed using the biomarkers. The algorithms depend on the particulars of the test protocol used to detect the biomarkers. These particulars include, for example, sample preparation, chip type and mass spectrometer parameters. If the test parameters change, the algorithm must change. Similarly, if the algorithm changes, the test protocol must change.
In another embodiment, the sample is collected from the patient. The biomarkers are captured using an antibody ProteinChip array as described above. The markers are detected using a biospecific SELDI test system. The results are then entered into a computer system, which contains an algorithm that is designed using the same parameters that were used in the learning algorithm and classification algorithm to originally determine the biomarkers. The algorithm produces a diagnosis based upon the data received relating to each biomarker. In yet other preferred embodiments, the markers are captured and tested using non-
SELDI formats. In one example, the sample is collected from the patient. The biomarkers are captured on a substrate using other known means, e.g., antibodies to the markers. The markers are detected using methods known in the art, e.g., optical methods and refractive index. Examples of optical methods include detection of fluorescence, e.g., ELISA. Examples of refractive index include surface plasmon resonance. The results for the markers are then subjected to an algorithm, which may or may not require artificial intelligence. The algorithm produces a diagnosis based upon the data received relating to each biomarker. In any of the above methods, the data from the sample may be fed directly from the detection means into a computer containing the diagnostic algorithm. Alternatively, the data obtained can be fed manually, or via an automated means, into a separate computer that contains the diagnostic algorithm. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention include methods for aiding a human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis, wherein the method comprises: (a) detecting at least one marker in a sample, wherein the marker is selected from any of the Markers 1-75; and (b) correlating the detection of the marker or markers with a probable diagnosis of human inflammatory bowel disease. The correlation may take into account the amount of the marker or markers in the sample compared to a control amount of the marker or markers (up or down regulation of the marker or markers) (e.g., in normal subjects in whom human inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable). The correlation may take into account the presence or absence of the markers in a test sample and the frequency of detection of the same markers in a control. The correlation may take into account both of such factors to facilitate determination of whether a subject has a human inflammatory bowel disease or not.
In a preferred embodiment, Markers 1 -75 are used to make a correlation with inflammatory bowel disease, wherein the inflammatory bowel disease may be any subtype, e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
Any suitable samples can be obtained from a subject to detect markers. Preferably, a sample is a colon or intestinal biopsy, e.g., an endoscopic biopsy sample from the subject. If desired, the sample can be prepared as described above to enhance detectability of the markers. For example, to increase the detectability of markers, a sample from the subject can be preferably fractionated by, e.g., Cibacron blue agarose chromatography and single stranded DNA affinity chromatography, anion exchange chromatography and the like. Sample preparations, such as pre-fractionation protocols, are optional and may not be necessary to enhance detectability of markers depending on the methods of detection used. For example, sample preparation may be unnecessary if antibodies that specifically bind markers are used to detect the presence of markers in a sample.
Processes for the purification of a biomarker include fractioning a sample, as described herein, for example, by size-exclusion chromatography and collecting a fraction that includes one or more biomarkers; and/or fractionating a sample comprising the one or more biomarkers by anion exchange chromatography and collecting a fraction that includes one or more biomarkers, wherein the biomarker is selected from one or more of the biomarkes of Tables 1 - 3.
IBD CANDIDATE GENES
In one aspect the invention also includes IBD candidate genes. These genes include, for example, apoptosis -regulating CASPlO at 2q33-34, LILRBl at 19ql3.4 (locus IBD6) and antigen-presenting genes PSME2 at 14ql 1.2 (locus IBD4). With respect to the IBD3 locus at 6p21,35 HLA-DMA, TAPl, UBD and PSMB8 (immunoproteasome for generating MHC class I binding antigenic peptides), at 6p21.3, are particularly intriguing. GNGTl (7q21.3) functioning in apoptosis and PRKACB (Ip36.1 , IBD7), involved in Wnt-signaling from the UC signature are also good candidates. The sequences of these genes are appended to the end of this specification, as well as exemplary primers for detecting or amplifying the makers.
DIAGNOSIS OF SUBJECT AND DETERMINATION OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE STATUS Any biomarker, individually, is useful in aiding in the determination of inflammatory bowel disease status. First, the selected biomarker is measured in a subject sample using the methods described herein, e.g., capture on a SELDI biochip followed by detection by mass spectrometry. Then, the measurement is compared with a diagnostic amount or control that distinguishes a inflammatory bowel disease status from a non-inflammatory bowel disease status. The diagnostic amount will reflect the information herein that a particular biomarker is up-regulated or down-regulated in a inflammatory bowel disease status compared with a non-inflammatory bowel disease status. As is well understood in the art, the particular diagnostic amount used can be adjusted to increase sensitivity or specificity of the diagnostic assay depending on the preference of the diagnostician. The test amount as compared with the diagnostic amount thus indicates inflammatory bowel disease status.
While individual biomarkers are useful diagnostic markers, it has been found that a combination of biomarkers provides greater predictive value than single markers alone. Specifically, the detection of a plurality of markers in a sample increases the percentage of true positive and true negative diagnoses and would decrease the percentage of false positive or false negative diagnoses. Thus, preferred methods of the present invention comprise the measurement of more than one biomarker. The detection of the marker or markers is then correlated with a probable diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. In some embodiments, the detection of the mere presence or absence of a marker, without quantifying the amount of marker, is useful and can be correlated with a probable diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. For example, biomarkers 1-75 can be more frequently detected in human inflammatory bowel disease subjects than in normal subjects. A mere detection of one or more of these markers in a subject being tested indicates that the subject has a higher probability of having inflammatory bowel disease. In another embodiment, biomarkers 61-75 can be less frequently detected in human UC disease subjects than in normal subjects, and/or in subjects who have CD. The mere detection of one or more of these markers in a subject being tested indicates that the subject has a lower probability of having inflammatory bowel disease.
In other embodiments, the measurement of markers can involve quantifying the markers to correlate the detection of markers with a probable diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. Thus, if the amount of the markers detected in a subject being tested is different compared to a control amount (i.e., higher or lower than the control, depending on the marker), then the subject being tested has a higher probability of having inflammatory bowel disease.
The correlation may take into account the amount of the marker or markers in the sample compared to a control amount of the marker or markers (up or down regulation of the marker or markers) (e.g., in normal subjects or in non-inflammatory bowel disease subjects such as where inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable). A control can be, e.g., the average or median amount of marker present in comparable samples of normal subjects in normal subjects or in non-inflammatory bowel disease subjects such as where inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable. The control amount is measured under the same or substantially similar experimental conditions as in measuring the test amount. The correlation may take into account the presence or absence of the markers in a test sample and the frequency of detection of the same markers in a control. The correlation may take into account both of such factors to facilitate determination of inflammatory bowel disease status.
In certain embodiments of the methods of qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status, the methods further comprise managing subject treatment based on the status. As before the, management of the subject describes the actions of the physician or clinician subsequent to determining inflammatory bowel disease status. For example, if the result of the methods of the present invention is inconclusive or there is reason that confirmation of status is necessary, the physician may order more tests (e.g., colonoscopy and imaging techniques). Alternatively, if the status indicates that treatment is appropriate, the physician may schedule the patient for treatment. In other instances, the patient may receive therapeiutic treatments, either in lieu of, or in addition to, surgery. No further action may be warranted. Furthermore, if the results show that treatment has been successful, a maintenance therapy or no further management may be necessary.
Therapeutic agents may include, one or more of sulfa drugs, corticosteriods (prednisone), 5-aminosalicylates (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa, or 5-ASA), immunosuppressives (azathioprine, Imuran, Cyclosporine, 6-MP, Purinethol and Methotrexate), anti-TNF (Remicade), anticholinergics, dicyclomine (Bentyl), belladonna/phenobarbital (Donnatal,
Antispas, bBarbidonna, donnapine, hyosophen, Spasmolin), hyoscyamine (Levsin, Anaspaz), chlordiazepoxide/clidinium (Librax), anti-diarrheals, diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil), alosetron hydrochloride (Lotronex), tegaserod (Zelnorm, Zelmac), rifaximin (Xifaxin), sulfasalazine (Azulfadine), mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa), osalazine (Dipentum), (Colazal), corticosteroids (prednisone), balsalazide disodium (colazal®), , cyclosporine, methotrexate, infliximab (Remicade), rifaximin, and budesonide (Entocort EC)
The invention also provides for such methods where the biomarkers (or specific combination of biomarkers) are measured again after subject management. In these cases, the methods are used to monitor the status of the inflammatory bowel disease, e.g., response to inflammatory bowel disease treatment, remission of the disease or progression of the disease. Because of the ease of use of the methods and the lack of invasiveness of the methods, the methods can be repeated after each treatment the patient receives. This allows the physician to follow the effectiveness of the course of treatment. If the results show that the treatment is not effective, the course of treatment can be altered accordingly. This enables the physician to be flexible in the treatment options.
In another example, the methods for detecting markers can be used to assay for and to identify compounds that modulate expression of these markers in vivo or in vitro.
The methods of the present invention have other applications as well. For example, the markers can be used to screen for compounds that modulate the expression of the markers in vitro or in vivo, which compounds in turn may be useful in treating or preventing inflammatory bowel disease in subjects. In another example, the markers can be used to monitor the response to treatments for inflammatory bowel disease. In yet another example, the markers can be used in heredity studies to determine if the subject is at risk for developing inflammatory bowel disease. For instance, certain markers may be genetically linked. This can be determined by, e.g., analyzing samples from a population of inflammatory bowel disease subjects whose families have a history of inflammatory bowel disease. The results can then be compared with data obtained from, e.g., -inflammatory bowel disease subjects whose families do not have a history of inflammatory bowel disease. The markers that are genetically linked may be used as a tool to determine if a subject whose family has a history of inflammatory bowel disease is pre-disposed to having inflammatory bowel disease. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a diagnosis based on the presence or absence in a test subject of any the biomarkers of this invention is communicated to the subject as soon as possible after the diagnosis is obtained. The diagnosis may be communicated to the subject by the subject's treating physician. Alternatively, the diagnosis may be sent to a test subject by email or communicated to the subject by phone. A computer may be used to communicate the diagnosis by email or phone. In certain embodiments, the message containing results of a diagnostic test may be generated and delivered automatically to the subject using a combination of computer hardware and software which will be familiar to artisans skilled in telecommunications. One example of a healthcare-oriented communications system is described in U.S. Patent Number 6,283,761; however, the present invention is not limited to methods which utilize this particular communications system. In certain embodiments of the methods of the invention, all or some of the method steps, including the assaying of samples, diagnosing of diseases, and communicating of assay results or diagnoses, may be carried out in diverse (e.g., foreign) jurisdictions.
Methods of the invention for determining the inflammatory bowel disease status of a subject, include for example, obtaining a biomarker profile from a sample taken from the subject; and comparing the subject's biomarker profile to a reference biomarker profile obtained from a reference population, wherein the comparison is capable of classifying the subject as belonging to or not belonging to the reference population; wherein the subject's biomarker profile and the reference biomarker profile comprise one or more markers listed in Tables 1 - 3.
The method may further comprise repeating the method at least once, wherein the subject's biomarker profile is obtained from a separate sample taken each time the method is repeated. Samples from the subject may be taken at any time, for example, the samples may be taken 24 hours apart or any other time determined useful.
Such comparisons of the biomarker profiles can determine inflammatory bowel disease status in the subject with an accuracy of at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, and approaching 100% as shown in the examples which follow.
The reference biomarker profile can be obtained from a population comprising a single subject, at least two subjects, at least 20 subjects or more. The number of subjects will depend, in part, on the number of available subjects, and the power of the statistical analysis necessary. A method of treating inflammatory bowel disease comprising administering to a subject suffering from or at risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease a therapeutically effective amount of a compound capable of modulating the expression or activity of one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3.
A method of treating a condition in a subject comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which modulates the expression or activity of one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3.
Compounds useful in methods disclosed herein include, for example, sulfa drugs, corticosteriods (prednisone), 5-aminosalicylates (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa, or 5-ASA), immunosuppressives (azathioprine, Imuran, Cyclosporine, 6-MP, Purinethol and Methotrexate), anti-TNF (Remicade), anticholinergics, dicyclomine (Bentyl), belladonna/phenobarbital (Donnatal, Antispas, bBarbidonna, donnapine, hyosophen, Spasmolin), hyoscyamine (Levsin, Anaspaz), chlordiazepoxide/clidinium (Librax), anti- diarrheals, diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil), alosetron hydrochloride (Lotronex), tegaserod (Zelnorm, Zelmac), rifaximin (Xifaxin), sulfasalazine (Azulfadine), mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa), osalazine (Dipentum), (Colazal), corticosteroids (prednisone), balsalazide disodium (colazal®), , cyclosporine, methotrexate, infliximab (Remicade), rifaximin, and budesonide (Entocort EC)
A method of qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject comprising:
(a) measuring at least one biomarker in a sample from the subject, wherein the biomarker is selected from one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3, and
(b) correlating the measurement with inflammatory bowel disease status. The method may also comprise the step of measuring the at least one biomarker after subject management.
Optionally, the methods of the invention may further comprise generating data on immobilized subject samples on a biochip, by subjecting the biochip to laser ionization and detecting intensity of signal for mass/charge ratio; and transforming the data into computer readable form; and executing an algorithm that classifies the data according to user input parameters, for detecting signals that represent biomarkers present in inflammatory bowel disease subjects and are lacking in non-inflammatory bowel disease subject controls.
Types of inflammatory bowel disease that may be identified or differentiated from one another according to this method include UC and CD.
KITS
In one aspect, the invention provides kits for the analysis of IBD status. The kits include PCR primers for at least one marker selected from Markers 1 - 75. In preferred embodiments, the kit includes more than two or three markers selected from Markers 1 - 75. The kit may further include instructions for use and correlation of the maker with disease status. For example, the presence of any one of Markers 1 - 31 indicate CD; the presence of any one of Markers 32 - 48 indicate IBD; the increased presence of any one of Markers 49- 60 indicate UC and the decreased presence of any one of Markers 61-75 indicate UC. The kit may also include a DNA array containing the complement of one or more of the Markers selected from 1 - 75, reagents, and/or enzymes for amplifying or isolating sample DNA. The kits may include reagents for real-time PCR, for example, TaqMan probes and/or primers, and enzymes.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides kits for qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status and/or aiding a diagnosis of human inflammatory bowel disease, wherein the kits can be used to detect the markers of the present invention. For example, the kits can be used to detect any one or more of the markers described herein, which markers are differentially present in samples of inflammatory bowel disease subjects and normal subjects. The kits of the invention have many applications. For example, the kits can be used to differentiate if a subject has inflammatory bowel disease or has a negative diagnosis, thus aiding a human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis. In another example, the kits can be used to identify compounds that modulate expression of one or more of the markers in in vitro or in vivo animal models for inflammatory bowel disease.
In one embodiment, a kit comprises: (a) a substrate comprising an adsorbent thereon, wherein the adsorbent is suitable for binding a marker, and (b) instructions to detect the marker or markers by contacting a sample with the adsorbent and detecting the marker or markers retained by the adsorbent. In some embodiments, the kit may comprise an eluant (as an alternative or in combination with instructions) or instructions for making an eluant, wherein the combination of the adsorbent and the eluant allows detection of the markers using gas phase ion spectrometry. Such kits can be prepared from the materials described above, and the previous discussion of these materials {e.g., probe substrates, adsorbents, washing solutions, etc.) is fully applicable to this section and will not be repeated.
In another embodiment, the kit may comprise a first substrate comprising an adsorbent thereon {e.g., a particle functionalized with an adsorbent) and a second substrate onto which the first substrate can be positioned to form a probe^ which is removably insertable into a gas phase ion spectrometer. In other embodiments, the kit may comprise a single substrate? which is in the form of a removably insertable probe with adsorbents on the substrate. In yet another embodiment, the kit may further comprise a pre-fractionation spin column {e.g., Cibacron blue agarose column, anti-HSA agarose column, K-30 size exclusion column, Q-anion exchange spin column, single stranded DNA column, lectin column, etc.).
In another embodiment, a kit comprises (a) an antibody that specifically binds to a marker; and (b) a detection reagent. Such kits can be prepared from the materials described above, and the previous discussion regarding the materials {e.g., antibodies, detection reagents, immobilized supports, etc.) is fully applicable to this section and will not be repeated. Optionally, the kit may further comprise pre-fractionation spin columns. In some embodiments, the kit may further comprise instructions for suitable operation parameters in the form of a label or a separate insert.
Optionally, the kit may further comprise a standard or control information so that the test sample can be compared with the control information standard to determine if the test amount of a marker detected in a sample is a diagnostic amount consistent with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. USE OF BIOMARKERS FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE IN SCREENING ASSAYS
The methods of the present invention have other applications as well. For example, the biomarkers can be used to screen for compounds that modulate the expression of the biomarkers in vitro or in vivo, which compounds in turn may be useful in treating or preventing inflammatory bowel disease in subjects. In another example, the biomarkers can be used to monitor the response to treatments for inflammatory bowel disease. In yet another example, the biomarkers can be used in heredity studies to determine if the subject is at risk for developing inflammatory bowel disease. Thus, for example, the kits of this invention could include a solid substrate having a hydrophobic function, such as a protein biochip (e.g., a Ciphergen ProteinChip array) and a buffer for washing the substrate, as well as instructions providing a protocol to measure the biomarkers of this invention on the chip and to use these measurements to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease. Method for identifying a candidate compound for treating inflammatory bowel disease may comprise, for example, contacting one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3 with a test compound; and determining whether the test compound interacts with the biomarker, wherein a compound that interacts with the biomarker is identified as a candidate compound for treating inflammatory bowel disease. Compounds suitable for therapeutic testing may be screened initially by identifying compounds which interact with one or more biomarkers listed in identified herein. By way of example, screening might include recombinantly expressing a biomarker of this invention, purifying the biomarker, and affixing the biomarker to a substrate. Test compounds would then be contacted with the substrate, typically in aqueous conditions, and interactions between the test compound and the biomarker are measured, for example, by measuring elution rates as a function of salt concentration. Certain proteins may recognize and cleave one or more biomarkers of this invention, in which case the proteins may be detected by monitoring the digestion of one or more biomarkers in a standard assay, e.g., by gel electrophoresis of the proteins. In a related embodiment, the ability of a test compound to inhibit the activity of one or more of the biomarkers of this invention may be measured. One of skill in the art will recognize that the techniques used to measure the activity of a particular biomarker will vary depending on the function and properties of the biomarker. For example, an enzymatic activity of a biomarker may be assayed provided that an appropriate substrate is available and provided that the concentration of the substrate or the appearance of the reaction product is readily measurable. The ability of potentially therapeutic test compounds to inhibit or enhance the activity of a given biomarker may be determined by measuring the rates of catalysis in the presence or absence of the test compounds. The ability of a test compound to interfere with a non-enzymatic (e.g., structural) function or activity of one of the biomarkers of this invention may also be measured. For example, the self-assembly of a multi-protein complex which includes one of the biomarkers of this invention may be monitored by spectroscopy in the presence or absence of a test compound. Alternatively, if the biomarker is a non-enzymatic enhancer of transcription, test compounds which interfere with the ability of the biomarker to enhance transcription may be identified by measuring the levels of biomarker-dependent transcription in vivo or in vitro in the presence and absence of the test compound. Test compounds capable of modulating the activity of any of the biomarkers of this invention may be administered to subjects who are suffering from or are at risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease.. For example, the administration of a test compound which increases the activity of a particular biomarker may decrease the risk of inflammatory bowel disease in a patient if the activity of the particular biomarker in vivo prevents the accumulation of proteins for inflammatory bowel disease. Conversely, the administration of a test compound which decreases the activity of a particular biomarker may decrease the risk of inflammatory bowel disease in a patient if the increased activity of the biomarker is responsible, at least in part, for the onset of inflammatory bowel disease.
At the clinical level, screening a test compound includes obtaining samples from test subjects before and after the subjects have been exposed to a test compound. The levels in the samples of one or more of the biomarkers of this invention may be measured and analyzed to determine whether the levels of the biomarkers change after exposure to a test compound. The samples may be analyzed by mass spectrometry, as described herein, or the samples may be analyzed by any appropriate means known to one of skill in the art. For example, the levels of one or more of the biomarkers of this invention may be measured directly by Western blot using radio- or fluorescently-labeled antibodies which specifically bind to the biomarkers. Alternatively, changes in the levels of mRNA encoding the one or more biomarkers may be measured and correlated with the administration of a given test compound to a subject. In a further embodiment, the changes in the level of expression of one or more of the biomarkers may be measured using in vitro methods and materials. For example, human tissue cultured cells which-express, or are capable of expressing, one or more of the biomarkers of this invention may be contacted with test compounds. Subjects who have been treated with test compounds will be routinely examined for any physiological effects which may result from the treatment. In particular, the test compounds will be evaluated for their ability to decrease disease likelihood in a subject. Alternatively, if the test compounds are administered to subjects who have previously been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, test compounds will be screened for their ability to slow or stop the progression of the disease.
CLASSIFICATION ALGORITHMS
A dataset can be analyzed by multiple classification algorithms. Some classification algorithms provide discrete rules for classification; others provide probability estimates of a certain outcome (class). In the latter case, the decision (diagnosis) is made based on the class with the highest probability. For example, consider the three-class problem: healthy, benign, and IBD. Suppose that a classification algorithm (e.g. Nearest neighbor) is constructed and applied to sample A, and the probability of the sample being healthy is 0, benign is 33%, and IBD is 67%. Sample A would be diagnosed as being IBD. This approach, however, does not take into account any "fuzziness" in the diagnosis i.e. that there was a certain probability that the sample was benign. Therefore, the diagnosis would be the same as for sample B, which has a probability of 0 of being healthy or benign and a probability of 1 of being IBD.
EXAMPLES
The following examples are offered by way of illustration, not by way of limitation. While specific examples have been provided, the above description is illustrative and not restrictive. Any one or more of the features of the previously described embodiments can be combined in any manner with one or more features of any other embodiments in the present invention. Furthermore, many variations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the specification. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.
It should be appreciated that the invention should not be construed to be limited to the examples which are now described; rather, the invention should be construed to include any and all applications provided herein and all equivalent variations within the skill of the ordinary artisan.
EXAMPLE 1 Patients and Controls
Informed consent was obtained from all individuals and diagnosis of patients was based on primary endoscopic, pathologic and radiology reports using standard diagnostic criteria.16 Consecutive patients undergoing colonoscopy include unrelated CD and UC patients and 4 non-IBD healthy controls (Table 4). Controls were negative for colorectal cancer on screening. All patients received Golytely® colonic preparation.
Table 4. Demographics
Sample* Age Sex Disease Endoscopy Histology
(years) location Duration Site** definition Inflammation# Fibrosis
(years) ##
CD33un 24 M colonic 4 T colon unaffected - -
CD33aff sigmoid affected -H- +
CD45un 37 F colonic 12 A colon unaffected - -
CD45aff cecum unaffected +
CD48unl 44 M ileal 20 T colon unaffected - -
CD48un2 T colon affected -
CD49un 21 F ileocolonic 3 rectum unaffected - +
CD49aff cecum affected -H- +
CD51 un 39 M colonic 15 SF colon unaffected + -
CD51aff sigmoid affected ++ +
CD53un 55 M colonic 15 T colon unaffected -
CD53aff rectum affected +++ -H-
CD58un 51 F colonic 10 D colon unaffected -
CD58aff SF colon affected + +
CD59un 32 M ileocolonic 15 D colon unaffected - -
CD59aff T colon affected - -
CD76un 76 M colonic 2 rectum unaffected
CD76affl sigmoid affected -H- -H-
CD76aff2 sigmoid affected -H- ++
Mean 42.1 12
Range 21-76 2-20
UC32un 82 F colonic 15 A colon unaffected +
UC32aff rectum affected + -H-
UC35un 40 F colonic 24 A colon unaffected _
UC35aff rectum affected ++ -H-
UC38un 60 M colonic 12 A colon unaffected
UC38aff sigmoid affected +
UC44un 45 M colonic 10 D colon unaffected
UC44aff sigmoid affected +
HF
UC55un 64 F colonic 46 colon unaffected -
UC55aff rectum affected -H- -H-
Mean 58.2 15
Range 45-82 10-46 N65 22 F sigmoid normal
N66 64 M sigmoid normal
N69 65 F sigmoid normal
N79 57 F sigmoid normal
Mean 52
Range 22-64
*CD. Crohn's disease, UC: ulcerative colitis, un. unaffected, aff: affected, N: normal control,
**Site of biopsy T transverse, A- ascending, D descending, SF splenic flexure, HF hepatic flexure.
# Score based on active (polymorphonuclear) and chronic (lymphoplasmacytic) inflammation ## Fibrosis score based on extent of lamina propria involvement, splaying of the musculaπs mucosa, and crypt dropout
(Supplemental Figure 1)
Endoscopic pinch biopsies
"Affected" pinch biopsies are from areas appearing affected by endoscopy, "unaffected" biopsies are from an area at least 10 cm away from any grossly diseased area (Table 4). For every microarray sample, histology of an adjacent biopsy was scored for inflammation and fibrosis (A.M.) (Table 4). A four-tier grading scheme (-, +, ++, +++), based on semi-quantitative assessment of mucosal inflammation and fibrosis was used.
RNA isolation and Microarray Each biopsy, approximately 2 x 2 x 3 mm3 and weighing 2-7 mg (mean = 4.7 mg, n =
6 biopsies), produced ~ 5 μg total RNA (TRIzol Reagent, Invitrogen Co), yielding 15 μg of biotin-labeled cRNA (https://www.affymeirix.conVsuppor1/technical/manual/). Biotinylated cRNA (10 μg per array) was hybridized to high-density oligonucleotide GeneChip Human Genome U95Av2 arrays (Affymetrix). The arrays were washed and stained (R-Phycoerythrin Streptavidin) in a GeneChip Fluidics Station 400. Images captured in a HP GeneArray Scanner (Affymetrix) were analyzed first by Microarray Suite 5.0 software (Affymetrix). Each transcript received a "present" or "absent" call based on whether the gene transcript was detected in the sample. The background intensities were low (40 ± 0.6 to 52 ± 1.0 arbitrary units), with ~ 48.4% to 56.9% of all 12,625 probe sets marked as "present" in the biopsy samples, consistent with our previous study of whole colon tissue resections.7
Data analysis
The DNA-Chip Analyzer (dChip) software 17 was used to normalize the data from the image files for array-to-array comparisons (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/geo) . We used (1) Significance Analysis of Microarays (SAM) software, l8 to select biologically significant changes in gene expression between groups using the criteria of median FDR < 0.1%, fold change >2, and Log2 mean expression index > 5.64, and (2) classical Multidimensional Scaling (MDS), 19 that provides a low dimensional, distance-preserving map such that arrays with similar profiles are close on the map, to visualize the data and relationships between samples.
On comparing gene expression patterns of 2 biopsies, 10 cm apart, from within an affected area of one CD patient (CD-76-affl and CD-76-aff2), only 10 genes showed > 2 fold difference in expression (from 3384 "present" genes) - an error of 0.29 % in independent gene expression measurements of the same affected area. Thus, one endoscopic biopsy is considered a reliable representation of the disease (Figure 1).
Analysis of 32 samples by MDS (Figure 2), placed 11 of 13 affected IBD biopsies above the horizontal axis, in quadrants Q 1 and Q4 separated from unaffected and healthy control samples. Most unaffected and control biopsies (17/19) are below the horizontal axis in Q2 and Q3. Second, UC affected clearly separate from CD affected, except one (UC-32), that by histology showed mild inflammation only and fibrosis of 2+ grade. Among the CD cases, 5 biopsies with active disease appear together in Ql; clinically these have colonic involvement, characterized by rectal sparing. Two other patients (CD-33 and CD -53) with rectal disease and high histopathologic inflammation scores co-localized with the UC affected, possibly representing a CD subgroup resembling UC. CD-45 affected endoscopically, placed in the MDS plot with controls and unaffected was subsequently found to be negative for inflammation and fibrosis by histology.
To determine the biological differences in samples driving the MDS distribution, genes were sought that were responsible for positioning of the samples in the different quadrants of the MDS map. An analysis of variance on each gene identified those with significant, quadrant specific differences in expression. From the expression pattern of these genes
(Figure 3), three groups are evident. (Group 1): Twenty-seven genes expressed above mean in the controls and in 5 CD individuals are down regulated in four of the five individuals with UC. A majority of these genes code for membrane-bound endoplasmic reticulum-, Golgi apparatus-, or in a few cases lysozomal- proteins. These are primarily epithelial genes that regulate protein trafficking and secretion. The only two CD individuals that manifest this UC pattern are CD 33 and 53, both noted for active rectal inflammation resembling UC. (Group 2): Nine genes are elevated in most CD and UC affected profiles and most likely contribute towards separation of IBD from normal controls in the MDS plot. These genes include several chemokine ligands produced by activated monocytes and neutrophils, indicative of an immune/inflammation process and seem to correlate well with the inflammation scoring of the samples by histology. (Group 3): Thirteen genes are over expressed in UC primarily and the two UC-like CD cases 33 and 53, roughly distinguishing UC from CD (Figure 3). Significance analyses of microarrays (SAM) to compare affected to normal controls to identify a consistent expression pattern for diseased CD and UC tissues. CD cases confirmed to have active disease by histology were included, CD-45, -48 and -49 with inactive disease and distanced from the other CD cases by MDS were excluded. The CD- unique expression pattern highlights biological processes believed to play major roles in CD pathogenesis (Table 5). These include inflammatory response (ILlB, SlOOAS), antigen presentation (MHC class II immunoproteasome members PSME2 and PSMB8, MHC class II ATP-binding antigen peptide transporter TAPl, HLA-DMA and UBD of MHC class I), inflammatory cell chemotaxis (IL8, CXCLl, CXCL 3), apoptosis (CASPl, CASPlO), macrophage activation (ASMT and interferon-regulated genes IFITMl, IFITM3, ISG20, IFI35, SPIlO), leukocyte protection (LILRB encoding a receptor for class I MHC antigens), and acute phase response (ADM, STATl, STAT3, and protease inhibitors SERPINAl and SPINKl to prevent tissue destruction). Certain overlaps evident between the CD and the UC over expressed gene signatures (Table 2. lower panel), involve immune response, antigen presentation (IGHG4, GIP3, LCN2), complement function (C4BPB, DAF), antimicrobial (DEFA6) and general inflammatory response (NOS2A, S100A9, REGlA, PAP).
Table 5. CD Gene Expression Signature
Gene Symbol Biological function Cytoband
CD unique gene expression*
Adrenomedulhn** ADM Acute phase response I lp l 5 4
Serine protease inhibitor, Kazal type 1 SPINKI Acute phase response 5q32
Serine/cysteine proteinase inhibitor, clade A,l SERPINA I Acute phase response 14q32 1
Signal transducer and activator of STATI Acute phase response 2q32 2 transcription 1
Signal transducer and activator of STA T3 Acute phase response 17q21 31 transcription 3**
Proteasome activator subunit 2** PSME2 Antigen presentation 14ql l 2
Protcasome subunit, beta type, 8 ** PSMB8 Antigen presentation 6p21 3
Ubiquitin D UBD Antigen presentation 6p21 3
Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2L 6 UBE2L6 Antigen presentation 1 1 q l 2
Transporter 1 , ATP-binding cassette, sub B TAPl Antigen presentation 6p21 3
Caspase 1 CASPI Apoptosis I l q23
Caspase 10 CASPIO Apoptosis 2q33-q34
Acetylserotonin O-methyltransfcrase ASMT B-cell activation Xp22 3/Yp l l
Mucin 1 , transmembrane MUCI Cytoskeleton I q21 Myosin, light polypeptide 3 MYU Cytoskeleton 3p21 3-p21 2 Chymotrypsin-hke CTRL Immune response 16q22 1 Interferon induced transmembrane protein 1 IFITMI Immune response 1 I p l 5 5 Interferon induced transmembrane protein 3 IFlTMi Immune response I l pl 5 5
Interferon stimulated gene 2OkDa ISG20 Immune response 15q26
Interferon-induced protein 35** IFI35 Immune response 17q21
Interleukin 1 , beta ILlB Immune response 2q l4
Leukocyte Ig-like receptor, subfamily B, 1 LlLRBI Immune response 19q l 3 4
MHC, class II, DM alpha HLA-DMA Immune response 6p21 3
SP l 10 nuclear body protein SPIlO Immune response 2q37 1
Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 ** CXCLl Inflammatory cell 4p21 recruitment
Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 3 CXCLi Inflammatory cell 4q21 recruitment
Interleukin 8 IL8 Inflammatory cell 4ql3-q21 recruitment
Regenerating islet-derived 1 beta REGlB Inflammatory cell 2pl 2 recruitment
Sl OO calcium binding protein A8 S100A8 Inflammatory cell Iq21 recruitment
Lipase, gastric LIPF Lipid metabolism 10q23 31
Ig lambda variable (IV)/OR22-2 1GLVIVOR22-2 Unknown 22q l2 2-q l2 3
Gene expression common to CD and UC*
Ig heavy constant gamma 4 (G4m marker) IGHG4 Antigen binding 14q32 33
Defensin, alpha 6, Paneth cell-specific DEFA 6 Antimicrobial 8pter-p21
Complement component 4 binding protein, β C4BPB Complement cascade I q32
Decay accelerating factor for complement DAF Complement regulation Iq32
Membrane-associated protein 17 MAP 17 Epithelial cell proliferation Ip33
Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 CXCL2 Immune response 4q21
Deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 ** DMBTl Immune response 10q25 3- q26 1
Interferon, alpha-inducible protein G1P3 Immune response Ip35
Lipocalin 2 LCN2 Inflammatory response 9q34
Nitric oxide synthase 2A NOS2A Inflammatory response 17ql l 2- ql2
Pancreatitis-associated protein PAP Inflammatory response 2pl 2
Regenerating islet-derived 1 alpha REGlA Inflammatory response 2pl 2
S l OO calcium binding protein A9 S100A9 Inflammatory response Iq21
Protein kinase C, eta PRKCH MAPK signaling 14q22-q23
Regulator of G-protein signalling 3 RGS3 MAPK signaling 9q32
DNA-damage-inducible transcript 4 DDIT4 Unknown lOpter- q26 12
Hypothetical protein FLJ 12443 FLJ12443 Unknown 5pl5 33
* All genes listed here are up regulated compared to normal controls ** Expression confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR
In the UC signature, derived by comparing all five UC affected to control, up- regulations suggest complement cascade activation (BF and C4A), growth regulatory (MIA) and apoptosis (A TM) changes, detoxification (NNMT) and intracellular transport (SNX26) (Table 6). Down regulations in UC are seen in biosynthetic and metabolic processes (PANK3, HPGD), and in endoplasmic reticulum-, Golgi-transport/intracellular trafficking (F2RL1, GABRGl, GNGTl, SLC4A4). Table 6. UC Gene Expression Signature
Gene Symbol Biological function Cytoband
Up-regulated
Defensin, alpha 5, Paneth cell-specific DEFA5 Antimicrobial 8pter-p21
Ataxia telangiectasia mutated ATM Apoptosis I lq22-q23
Chemokine (C-X-C motif) hgand 13 CXCLU B-cell chemoattractant 4q21
B-factor, properdin BF Complement activation 6p21 3
Complement component 4A C4A Complement activation 6p21 3
Actin, beta ACTB Cytoskeleton 7pl 5-p l 2
Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase NNMT Detoxification I l q23 1
Melanoma inhibitory activity MIA Growth regulation 19q l 3 32-ql 3 33
Sorting nexin 26 SNX26 Intracellular protein transport 19ql3 13
A disintegπn and metal loproteinase domain 5 ADAMS Unknown 8pl 1 23
RNA binding motif protein 8A RBMSA Unknown I q l 2
Tπbbles homolog 2 (Drosophila) TRIB2 Unknown 2p25 1
Down-regulated
Cychn G l CCNGl Cell growth 5q32-q34
Myeloid/lymphoid or mixed-lineage leukemia, translocated to, 3 MLLT3 Cell growth 9p22
Protein phosphatase 2 (formerly 2A), regulatory subunit B", alpha PPP2R3A Cell growth regulation 3q22 1
Pantothenate kinase 3 PANKi CoA biosynthetic 5q34
Dynein, axonemal, heavy polypeptide 9 DNAH9 Cytoskeleton 17pl2
Guanine nucleotide binding protein, gamma transducing activity polypeptide 1 GNGTl G protein member 7q21 3
Coagulation factor II (thrombin) receptor-like 1 F2RL1 Golgi apparatus protein 5ql3
Surfactant, pulmonary-associated protein D SFTPD Innate immune response 10q22 2-q23 1
Solute carrier family 4, sodium bicarbonate cotransporter, member 4 SLC4A4 Ion transport 4q21
Gamma-aminobutyπc acid (GABA) A receptor, gamma 3 GABRG3 Ligand-gated ion channel 15ql l-ql 3
Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase 15-(NAD) HPGD Prostaglandin metabolism 4q34-q35
TAF5-like RNA polymerase II, p300/CBP-assoαated factor (PCAF)-associated TAF5L Transcription Iq42 13 factor, 65kDa
Protein kinase, cAMP-dependent, catalytic, beta PRKACB Wnt-signaling Ip36 1
Global gene expression patterns were obtained from single endoscopic pinch biopsies that were reproducible and representative of the local diseased area. Overlap was found between profiles of resected tissues and endoscopic tissues. Both UC patterns are quite dynamic showing multiple gene expression changes (REGlA, LCN2, N0S2, NNMT, for example). In contrast, the signature for resected CD tissues was remarkably static compared to that of biopsies. The CD biopsy tissues show induction of several chemokine and interferon-γ responsive genes. Without wishing to be bound by theory, gene expression differences in CD and UC speak of fundamentally different biological processes contributing to their pathogenesis. The genes over-expressed in CD are overwhelmingly those of acute phase and innate immune response (involving IL-I and TNFα mediated induction of NF-κB), MHC class II mediated antigen presentation, macrophage activation and recruitment of inflammatory cells. The distinctive transmural tissue damage and mesenchymal involvement in CD may be due to this major early involvement of immune and inflammatory cells. Gene expression changes in UC, on the other hand, make a strong case for loss of epithelial homeostasis as being central to UC. Epithelial secretion is a process that is pivotal to maintaining intestinal mucosal integrity.20 Intracellular trafficking and secretory functions of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are essential for the degradation and secretion of ingested environmental toxins by the intestinal epithelium. Upon examining the UC signature and the 50 genes whose expression differences coincide with separation of UC from CD in the MDS plot, it was observed that a number of genes functioning in epithelial secretion, intracellular trafficking and endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi functions are remarkably down regulated in UC. An overload of degraded, unfolded proteins has been proposed to cause ER stress as in the Irelβ (Inositol requiring kinase l)-deficient mouse that develop colitis when challenged with dextran sodium sulfate.21 Without wishing to be bound by theory, initial events in CD and UC may be quite different (Figure 4). In CD it is mostly a deregulation of immune functions as has been believed for a long time, while impaired detoxification and ER stress contribute to UC. Interestingly, ER stress has been recently linked to obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.22 In that study metabolic and inflammatory stress (increased lipid synthesis) was suggested to cause increased workload in the ER. In UC down regulation of metabolic and biotransformation enaymes may be the primary cause of ER stress. Unsupervised multidimensional scaling was used on the IBD and normal gene expression profiles to develop a systematic approach towards molecular classification 24'28 of disease subtypes. There is a clear separation of controls from IBD. Within the CD cases there is a grouping of some into one sub group, with two other CD cases localizing with UC samples, underscoring the heterogeneous nature of CD.
The following genes from the signatures pose promising IBD candidate genes: apoptosis -regulating CASPlO at 2q33-34, LILRBl at 19ql3.4 (locus IBD6) and antigen- presenting genes PSME2 at 14ql l .2 (locus IBD4). With respect to the IBD3 locus at 6p21,35 HLA-DMA, TAPl, UBD and PSMB8 (immunoproteasome for generating MHC class I binding antigenic peptides), at 6p21.3, are particularly intriguing. GNGTl (7q21.3) functioning in apoptosis and PRKACB (Ip36.1 , IBD7), involved in Wnt-signaling from the UC signature are also good candidates.
Sample classification by multidimensional scaling A total of 18 CD samples (8 affected and 10 unaffected biopsies), 10 UC samples (5 affected and 5 unaffected) and 4 normal biopsy samples were analyzed. The histological assessment of the biopsy samples are presented first to evaluate the MDS classification in the context of their histology. Control and unaffected biopsies essentially display normal colonic architecture, with no evidence of cryptitis, crypt distortion, or acute and chronic inflammation (Figure 5, A and B). In contrast, biopsies marked as "affected" manifest variable degrees of acute or chronic colitis, including one or more of the following histologic features: cryptitis, with or without accompanying crypt abscesses, crypt distortion, lamina propria fibrosis, crypt dropout, basal lymphoplasmacytosis, and Paneth cell metaplasia (Figure 5, C and D). None of the biopsies indicate evidence of colitis-associated epithelial dysplasia or neoplasia.
Cross validation by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR)
Eight genes (CXCLl, DMBTl, ASMT, ADM, STAT3, IFI35, PSME2 and PSMB8) were selected from our microarray expression profiles for further confirmation by quantitative (q) RT-PCR (Figure 6). The qRT-PCR results show excellent agreement with the array analysis results. CXCLl and DMBTl are up regulated in CD and UC affected biopsies, while ADM, STAT3, PSME2 and PSMB8 are primarily up regulated in CD affected biopsies. ASMT and IFB 5 show elevated levels of transcript in CD affected and unaffected biopsies (Figure 6).
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A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status comprising one or more of Markers 1 - 75 and combinations thereof.
2. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1, wherein Markers 1 - 48 are Markers of Crohn's disease.
3. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1, wherein Markers 49 - 75 are markers of ulcerative colitis.
4. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 3, wherein Markers 49-60 are up-regulated in ulcerative colitis. 5. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 3, wherein
Markers 61-75 are down-regulated in ulcerative colitis.
6. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1, comprising Markers 1, 2, 4 and 5.
7. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1, comprising Markers 6 and 10.
8. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1, comprising Markers 17, 18, and 21.
9. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1, comprising Markers 55 and 57. 10. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 9, wherein
Markers 55 and 57 are up-regulated.
1 1. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1 , comprising Markers 69, 74 and 75.
12. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1 1, wherein the Markers are down-regulated.
13. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1, comprising Markers 1 , 6, 17, 55 and 69. 14. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1, comprising Markers 2, 10, 18, 57, and 74.
15. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1 , comprising Markers 4, 6, 21, 55, and 69. 16. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1, comprising
Markers 1, 6, and 17.
17. The biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease status of claim 1, comprising Markers 55 and 69.
18. A method of qualifying inflammatory bowel disease status in a subject comprising:
(a) measuring at least one biomarker in a sample from the subject, wherein the biomarker is selected from one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3, and
(b) correlating the measurement with inflammatory bowel disease status.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the inflammatory bowel disease is Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
20. The method of any one of claims 18 or 19, further comprising:
(c) managing subject treatment based on the status.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein managing subject treatment is selected from ordering further diagnostic tests, administering at least one therapeutic agent, surgery, surgery followed or preceded by administering at least one therapeutic agent, biotherapy, and taking no further action.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from one or more of sulfa drugs, corticosteriods (prednisone), 5-aminosalicylates (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa, or 5-ASA), immunosuppressives (azathioprine, Imuran, Cyclosporine, 6-MP, Purinethol and Methotrexate), anti-TNF (Remicade), anticholinergics, dicyclomine (Bentyl), belladonna/phenobarbital (Donnatal, Antispas, bBarbidonna, donnapine, hyosophen, Spasmolin), hyoscyamine (Levsin, Anaspaz), chlordiazepoxide/clidinium (Librax), anti- diarrheals, diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil), alosetron hydrochloride (Lotronex), tegaserod (Zelnorm, Zelmac), rifaximin (Xifaxin), sulfasalazine (Azulfadine), mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa), osalazine (Dipentum), (Colazal), corticosteroids (prednisone), balsalazide disodium (colazal®), , cyclosporine, methotrexate, infliximab (Remicade), rifaximin, and budesonide (Entocort EC).
23. The method of any one of claims 20-22, further comprising: (d) measuring the at least one biomarker after subject management.
24. The method of any one of claims 18-22, wherein the inflammatory bowel disease status is selected from one or more of the presence or absence of alternating diarrhea and constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, spasms, nausea, bloody diarrhea, fever, dehydration, eye inflammation, joint pain, skin rashes or lesions, mouth ulcers, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, lack of appetite, nutritional deficiencies, and inflamed colon.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising assessing the status of the inflammatory bowel disease.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the inflammatory bowel disease status is assessed by barium enema, upper GI series, stool culture, blood tests (to determine a white blood cell count or if anemia is present), fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy.
27. A method for differentiating between a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory bowel disease comprising:
(a) detecting in a subject sample an amount of at least one biomarker selected from one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3, and
(b) correlating the amount with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or inflammatory bowel disease.
28. The method of any of claims 20-27, wherein the marker is detected by mass spectrometry, PCR, and microarray analysis. 29. The method of any one of claims 20-27, wherein the marker is detected by
SELDI.
30. The method of any one of claims 20-29, wherein the sample from the subject is one or more of colon biopsy material, intestinal biopsy material, fecal material, blood, blood plasma, serum, urine, cells, organs, seminal fluids, bone marrow, saliva, stool, a cellular extract, a tissue sample, a tissue biopsy, and cerebrospinal fluid.
31. The method of any one of claims 20-31 , wherein biomarkers are protein biomarkers and are measured by immunoassay. 32. The method of any one of claims 20-31 , wherein at least two biomarkers are measured.
33. The method of any one of claims 20-31 , wherein at least three biomarkers are measured.
34. A kit for aiding the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, comprising: an adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent retains one or more biomarkers selected from one or more of the markers of Tables 1 - 3, and written instructions for use of the kit for detection of inflammatory bowel disease.
35. A kit for aiding the diagnosis of the subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease, comprising: an adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent retains one or more biomarkers selected from each of Markers 1 - 48 and Markers 49-75, and written instructions for use of the kit for detection of the IBD or a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease, e.g., UC or CD.
36. The kit of any one of claims 34-35, wherein the instructions provide for contacting a test sample with the adsorbent and detecting one or more biomarkers retained by the adsorbent.
37. The kit of any one of claims 34-36, wherein the adsorbent is an antibody, single or double stranded oligonucleotide, amino acid, protein, peptide or fragments thereof.
38. The kit of any one of claims 34-37, wherein one or more protein biomarkers is detected using mass spectrometry, immunoassays, or PCR. 39. The method of claim 18, wherein measuring is selected from detecting the presence or absence of the biomarkers(s), quantifying the amount of marker(s), and qualifying the type of biomarker. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the substrate is a microtiter plate comprising biospecifϊc affinity reagents that bind one or more of the biomarkers listed in Tables 1 - 3 and the protein biomarkers are detected by immunoassay.
41. A method comprising measuring a plurality of biomarkers in a sample from the subject, wherein the biomarkers are selected from one or more of the markers of Tables 1 - 3.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein the protein biomarkers are detected by SELDI or immunoassay.
43. The method of claim 41, wherein the sample from the subject is one or more of a tissue or body fluid.
44. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating a diagnosis to a subject, wherein the diagnosis results from the correlation of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3 with inflammatory bowel disease.
45. A method for identifying a candidate compound for treating inflammatory bowel disease comprising: a) contacting one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3 with a test compound; and b) determining whether the test compound interacts with the biomarker, wherein a compound that interacts with the biomarker is identified as a candidate compound for treating inflammatory bowel disease. 46. A method of treating inflammatory bowel disease comprising administering to a subject suffering from or at risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease a therapeutically effective amount of a compound capable of modulating the expression or activity of one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3.
47. A method of treating a condition in a subject comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which modulates the expression or activity of one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3.
48. The method of any one of claims 45-47, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of enzyme inhibitors, cytotoxic drugs, cytokine, chemokines, antibodies, a DNA molecule, an RNA molecule, a small molecule, a peptide, and a peptidomimetic.
48. The method of any of claims 18-29, wherein the at least one biomarker is measured by immunoassay. 50. The method of any of claims 18-29, wherein the correlation is performed by a software classification algorithm.
51. The method of any of claims 18-29, wherein inflammatory bowel disease status is selected from UC and CD.
52. A purified biomolecule selected from the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3. 53. A method for identifying a IBD treatment a) contacting a cell with a test compound, b) measuring at least one biomarker, wherein the biomarker is selected from one or more of the biomarkers of Tables 1 - 3, and c) correlating the measurement with a determination of efficacy. 54. A method of determining the inflammatory bowel disease status of a subject, comprising:
(a) obtaining a biomarker profile from a sample taken from the subject; and
(b) comparing the subject's biomarker profile to a reference biomarker profile obtained from a reference population, wherein the comparison is capable of classifying the subject as belonging to or not belonging to the reference population; wherein the subject's biomarker profile and the reference biomarker profile comprise one or more markers listed in Tables 1 - 3.
55. The method of claim 54, further comprising repeating the method at least once, wherein the subject's biomarker profile is obtained from a separate sample taken each time the method is repeated.
56. The method of claim 55, wherein samples from the subject are taken about 24 hours apart. 57. The method of claim 54, wherein the comparison of the biomarker profiles can determine inflammatory bowel disease status in the subject with an accuracy of at least about 60% to about 99% .
58. The method of claim 54, wherein the reference biomarker profile is obtained from a population comprising a single subject, at least two subjects, and at least 20 subjects.
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