ME-5, ME-2, and EPP2: human protein antigens reactive with autoantibodies present in the serum of women suffering from endometriosis

Abstract

Three human endometrial antigens, ME-5, ME-2 and EPP2, and combination thereof have been discovered that are the targets of antibodies present in the serum of women suffering from endometriosis. These protein products and the human antibodies reactive with them are used as tools for diagnostic assays that monitor patients with the disease of endometriosis.

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         9 . A method for detecting a ME-5 polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:3) in a sample, comprising the steps of:
 (1) contacting the sample with an antibody that specifically binds to an epitope of the ME-5 polypeptide and   (2) detecting specific binding between the antibody and ME-5 polypeptide;   
       whereby specific binding provides a detection of ME-5 polypeptide in the sample. 
     
     
         10 . A method for diagnosing endometriosis in a human subject comprising the steps of:
 (a) detecting a test amount of an antibody that specifically binds to ME-5 (SEQ ID NO:3) polypeptide or a peptide comprising an epitope of ME-5 in a sample from the subject; and   (b) comparing the test amount with a normal range of the antibody in a control sample from a subject who does not suffer from endometriosis,   
       whereby a test amount above the normal range provides a positive indication in the diagnosis of endometriosis. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the sample comprises blood serum. 
     
     
         12 . The method  claim 10  wherein the step of detecting comprises capturing the antibody from the sample with an immobilized ME-5 or a peptide comprising an epitope of ME-5 and detecting the captured antibody. 
     
     
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         40 . A method for diagnosing endometriosis in a human subject comprising the steps of:
 (a) detecting a test amount of an antibody that specifically binds to at least one of ME-5 (SEQ ID NO:3) polypeptide, ME-2 (SEQ ID NO:6) polypeptide, and EPP2 (SEQ ID NO:9) polypeptide in a sample from the subject; and   (b) comparing the test amount with a normal range of the antibody in a control sample from a subject who does not suffer from endometriosis,   whereby a test amount above the normal range provides a positive indication in the diagnosis of endometriosis.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the sample comprises blood serum. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the step of detecting comprises capturing the antibody from the sample with an immobilized peptide where said peptide is selected from the group consisting of ME-2 or a peptide comprising an epitope of ME-2, ME-5 or a peptide comprising an epitope of ME-5 and EPP2 or a peptide comprising an epitope of EPP2 and detecting captured antibody. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39  wherein binding polypeptide includes ME-2, ME-5 and EPP2.