Polynucleotides related to pancreatic disease

Abstract

The present invention is based on the discovery of polynucleotides that represent novel genes that are differentially expressed in pancreatic disease, e.g., pancreatic cancer, dysplasia, pancreatitis, or diabetes. The invention features methods of identifying cells affected by such pancreatic diseases by detection of a gene product encoded by such differentially expressed genes, as well as methods of modulating expression of such gene products to effect therapy (e.g., to decrease growth and/or affect abnormal characteristics of cancerous or dysplastic pancreatic cells.)

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A library of differentially expressed genes, the library comprising the sequence information of at least one of the polynucleotides of SEQ ID NOS: 1-6.  
     
     
         2 . The library of  claim 1 , wherein the library is provided on a nucleic acid array.  
     
     
         3 . The library of  claim 1 , wherein the library is provided in a computer-readable format.  
     
     
         4 . The library of  claim 1 , wherein the library is composed of relative amounts of the polynucleotides of SEQ ID NOS: 1-6, where the relative amounts is representative of relative amounts of the polynucleotides found in a cancerous pancreatic cell.  
     
     
         5 . The library of  claim 1 , wherein the library is composed of relative amounts of polynucleotides of SEQ ID NOS: 1-6, where the relative amounts is representative of relative amounts of the polynucleotides found in a dysplastic pancreatic cell.  
     
     
         6 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to an identifying sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1-6 or degenerate variants thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 6 , wherein the identifying sequence is selected from the group consisting of: a) residues 1-304 of SEQ ID NO: 1; b) residues 533-571 of SEQ ID NO: 1; c) residues 1-62 of SEQ ID NO: 2; d) residues 102-139 of SEQ ID NO: 2; e) residues 183-544 of SEQ ID NO: 2; f) residues 1-41 of SEQ ID NO: 3; g) residues 62-182 of SEQ ID NO: 3; h) residues 216-281 of SEQ ID NO: 3; i) residues 319-342 of SEQ ID NO: 3; j) residues 1-13 of SEQ ID NO: 4; k) residues 32-137 of SEQ ID NO: 4; 1) residues 156-236 of SEQ ID NO: 4; m) residues 255-429 of SEQ ID NO: 4; n) residues 453-493 of SEQ ID NO: 4; o) residues 1-101 of SEQ ID NO: 5; p) residues 408-418 of SEQ ID NO: 5; q) residues 327-444 of SEQ ID NO: 6; r) residues 640-997 of SEQ ID NO: 6; and s) residues 1018-1063 of SEQ ID NO: 6.  
     
     
         8 . An array comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         9 . A recombinant host cell containing the polynucleotide of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         10 . An isolated polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         11 . An antibody that specifically binds a polypeptide of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         12 . A polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of an insert contained in a clone selected from the group consisting of: a) clone HX2134-4, deposited as ATCC accession number 98896; b) clone HX2144-1, deposited as ATCC accession number 98896; c) clone HX2145-3, deposited as ATCC accession number 98896; d) clone HX2162-3, deposited as ATCC accession number 98896; e) clone HX2166-6, deposited as ATCC accession number 98896; and f) clone HX2192-1, deposited as ATCC accession number 98896.  
     
     
         13 . A method of identifying a cancerous pancreatic cell, the method comprising the step of: 
 detecting at least one differentially expressed gene product, where the gene product is encoded by a gene having a sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1-6 in a test sample, where the test sample is derived from a test cell suspected of being a cancerous pancreatic cell; and    comparing an amount of the detected differentially expressed gene product with an amount of the differentially expressed gene product in a control sample, where the control sample is derived from a cancerous pancreatic cell;    wherein detection of an amount of the differentially expressed gene product in the test sample that is similar to an amount of the gene product in the control sample indicates that the test cells is a cancerous pancreatic cell.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said detecting step is by hybridization of the test sample to a reference array, wherein the reference array comprises an identifying sequence of at least one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-6.  
     
     
         15 . A therapeutic composition comprising an active agent for modulation of expression of a gene differentially expressed in cancerous or dysplastic pancreatic cells.  
     
     
         16 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the active agent effects a decrease in biological activity of a gene product encoded by a gene having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         17 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the active agent effects an increase in biological activity of a gene product encoded by a gene having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.  
     
     
         18 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the active agent effects an increase in biological activity of a gene product encoded by a gene having a sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 3.  
     
     
         19 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the active agent effects a decrease in biological activity of a gene product encoded by a gene having a sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 4 or 5.