Method for detecting a chronic inflammatory-associated disease

Abstract

The present invention in one embodiment is an early detection marker for chronic or acute inflammatory-associated diseases. Chronic diseases may include atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory diseases of the bowel such as Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis, Irritable bowel syndrome and Inflammatory bowel disease. Acute diseases may include sepsis, acute systemic infections, acute lung injury, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

1 . A method of detecting the presence of a chronic inflammatory-associated disease in a subject suspected of having the chronic inflammatory-associated disease comprising:
 obtaining a fluid sample from a subject, wherein the subject does not have an acute bacterial or viral infection when the fluid sample is obtained;   testing the fluid sample for CAP37 protein; and   correlating the presence of CAP37 protein in the fluid sample with the presence of a chronic inflammatory-associated disease in the subject suspected of having the chronic inflammatory-associated disease.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fluid sample comprises serum, plasma, or cerebrospinal fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the chronic inflammatory-associated disease is at least one of Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Irritable bowel syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the chronic inflammatory-associated disease is Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the chronic inflammatory-associated disease is atherosclerosis. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the chronic inflammatory-associated disease is asthma. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the chronic inflammatory-associated disease is rheumatoid arthritis. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the chronic inflammatory-associated disease is osteoarthritis. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the chronic inflammatory-associated disease is Ulcerative colitis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the chronic inflammatory-associated disease is Crohn's disease. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the chronic inflammatory-associated disease is Irritable bowel syndrome. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the chronic inflammatory-associated disease is Inflammatory Bowel Disease. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the CAP37 protein is an endothelial CAP37. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the CAP37 protein is a neuronal CAP37. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the CAP37 protein is a vascular CAP37. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the CAP37 protein comprises SEQ ID NO:8. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  comprising an additional step of testing the subject for an additional inflammatory marker selected from the group consisting of C-reactive protein, IL-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha.