Novel therapeutic and diagnostic products and methods

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of p11 as a drug target as well as a tool for the diagnosis, treatment and development of p11/5-HT receptor related disorders. The invention further relates to p11 knock-out animals as well as p11 transgenic animals and their use as models for the development of novel psychotherapeutic agents, and to methods of diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of p11/5-HT receptor related disorders.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method of diagnosing a p11/5-HT receptor related disorders in a subject comprising determining the level of p11 in a biological sample wherein said sample comprises peripheral blood mononuclear cells from said subject and comparing said p11 level to a reference, wherein an abnormal level of p11 compared to the reference constitutes a positive diagnosis of p11/5-HT receptor related disorder. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein said peripheral blood mononuclear cells are NK cells and/or CD-8+ T-cells. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein said peripheral blood mononuclear cells are NK cells. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein said p11/5-HT receptor related disorder is depression. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein said depression comprises a p11 associated depression. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein said p11/5-HT receptor related disorder is a disorder associated with an abnormally low level of p11, wherein reduced level of p11 in a subject compared to a control subject constitutes a positive diagnosis of such disorders. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein said disorder associated with an abnormally low level of p11 is selected from a group consisting of depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, drug addiction, eating disorders, Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactive disorder. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein said p11/5-HT receptor related disorders are disorders associated with an abnormally high level of p11, wherein an elevated level of p11 in a subject compared to that in a control subject constitutes a positive diagnosis of such disorders. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein said disorder associated with an abnormally high level of p11 is selected from a group consisting of mania, dipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, aggression, sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction and gastrointestinal disorders. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein said level of p11 is determined by assaying p11 protein level in the monocytes and/or lymphocytes in said biological sample from said subject. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein said level of p11 is determined by assaying p11 mRNA level in a biological sample from said subject. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the level of p11 is determined using a monoclonal antibody specific for p11. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the detection of said monoclonal antibody is achieved by using standard ELISA, FACS analysis, and/or standard imaging techniques.