Evaluation of eosinophilic esophagitis

Abstract

A method to evaluate eosinophilic esophagitis based on information in an eosinophilic esophagitis transcriptome.

1 . A method to evaluate an individual's propensity for eosinophilic esophagitis (ee), the method comprising
 determining an expression profile of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS. 1-1620 in an esophagus of an individual,   comparing the expression profile of the at least one gene of the individual with an expression profile from an individual without EE,   evaluating the individual's propensity for EE by determining if the at least one gene is either over-expressed ≧1.5 times or is under-expressed ≧1.5 times compared to the same gene in the expression profile from the individual without EE, and   ranking the individual's propensity for EE based on at least one of
 (a) the extent that over-expression or under-expression exceeds 1.5, 
 (b) the identify of the gene over-expressed or under-expressed, or 
 (c) the number of genes that are over-expressed or under-expressed, where the individual has a higher propensity for EE when (a) is farther from 1.5, (b) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS. 1-42, and (c) is farther from 1. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (b) is SEQ ID NO. 1. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the individual lacks at least one of clinical and physical symptoms of EE. 
     
     
         4 . A method to evaluate a compound's contribution to the pathophysiology of eosinophilic esophagitis (EE), the method comprising
 exposing at least one cell to the compound,   comparing an expression profile of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS. 1-1620 in the at least one cell to an expression profile of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS. 1-1620 in a cell of an individual without EE,   evaluating the contribution of the compound to the pathophysiology of EE by determining if the at least one gene in the cell is either over-expressed ≧1.5 times or is under-expressed ≧1.5 times compared to the same gene in the expression profile of the individual without EE, and   ranking the compound's contribution to the pathophysiology of EE based on at least one of
 (a) the extent that over-expression or under-expression exceeds 1.5, 
 (b) the identify of the gene over-expressed or under-expressed, or 
 (c) the number of genes that are over-expressed or under-expressed, where the compound contributes more to the pathophysiology of EE when (a) is farther from 1.5, (b) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS. 1-42, and (c) is farther from 1. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the cell is an esophageal cell. 
     
     
         6 . A method to evaluate whether an individual had prior eosinophilic esophagitis (EE), the method comprising
 determining an expression profile of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS. 6, 35, 43, 61, 129, 1358, 1441, 1515, 1538, 1584, 1615, 1618, and 1620 in an esophagus of an individual,   comparing the expression profile of the at least one gene of the individual with an expression profile from an individual without EE,   evaluating whether the individual had prior EE by determining if the at least one gene is either over-expressed ≧1.5 times or is under-expressed ≧1.5 times compared to the same gene in the expression profile from the individual without EE, and   ranking the likelihood that the individual had prior EE based on at least one of
 (a) the extent that over-expression or under-expression exceeds 1.5, or 
 (b) the number of genes that are over-expressed or under-expressed, where the individual is more likely to have had EE when (a) is farther from 1.5, and (b) is farther from 1. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  where the individual does not have active EE.