Diagnostic method for detecting cell-proliferating diseases

Abstract

This invention relates to a diagnostic method for detecting cell-proliferating diseases characterized by analysis of the methylation level of cytosine residues in the region involved in the expression of cytokine receptor gene.

1 . A diagnostic method for detecting cell-proliferating diseases characterized by determining the methylation level of cytosine residue(s) at the specific region of genome DNA involved in the expression of cytokine receptor gene.  
     
     
         2 . The diagnostic method of  claim 1  wherein the cytokine receptor gene is the gene of a receptor selected from tyrosine kinase receptor family, serine-threonine kinase receptor family, interleukin receptor family, interferon receptor family, immunoglobulin receptor family, apoptotic receptor family and seven transmembrane receptor family.  
     
     
         3 . The diagnostic method of  claim 2  wherein the tyrosine kinase receptor family gene is the gene of a receptor selected from epidermal growth factor receptor, epidermal growth factor-like receptor 2 (erbB2/HER2/neu), platelet derived growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptor.  
     
     
         4 . The diagnostic method of  claim 1  wherein the cell-proliferating disease is a cell-proliferating disease selected from psoriasis, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, arteriosclerosis, restenosis, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and solid tumor.  
     
     
         5 . The diagnostic method of  claim 1  wherein the specific region is a region in CpG island of promoter or intron.  
     
     
         6 . Cancelled.  
     
     
         7 . Cancelled.  
     
     
         8 . Cancelled.  
     
     
         9 . Cancelled.  
     
     
         10 . The diagnostic method of  claim 1  wherein the specific region is the region involved in the expression of epidermal growth factor-like receptor 2 (erbB2/HER2/neu) and represented by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8.  
     
     
         11 . The diagnostic method of  claim 10  characterized by determining the level of methylation of 268 th , 276 th  and 288 th  cytosine residues in the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8.  
     
     
         12 . The diagnostic method of  claim 11  characterized by analyzing the level of methylation of 268 th  cytosine residue in the nucleotide sequence as of SEQ ID NO:8.  
     
     
         13 . Cancelled.  
     
     
         14 . Cancelled.  
     
     
         15 . A method of detecting the level of methylation of cytosine residue(s) in the specific region of DNA involved in the expression of cytokine receptor gene.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the method of detecting the level of methylation is a method using methylation sensitive restriction enzyme, a method using chemical modification by hydrazine, permanganic acids or sodium bisulfite, an immunological method using antibodies specific to methylated DNA, affinity column chromatography method or DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) method.