Markers for diagnosis of pulmonary inflammation and methods related thereto

Abstract

The present invention is related to the novel discovery of a number of genes that were identified as systemic markers of pulmonary inflammation. This discovery allows for development of a novel tool for reliable, rapid and efficient assessment of therapeutic responses and enables design of novel therapies targeted against diseases associated with pulmonary inflammation. In one embodiment, the present invention allows quantification of therapeutic response in patients who have a disease associated with pulmonary inflammation. In preferred embodiments, the genes are CD64, ADAM9, CD36, IL32, HPSE, PLXND1, HCA112, CSPG2, TLR2, and CD163.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method to treat acute pulmonary exacerbation in a subject having cystic fibrosis and having had a first administration of at least one antibiotic comprising further administering at least one antibiotic to the subject if the subject had different mRNA expression levels of CD64, PLXND1, HCA112, TLR2, CD163 and IL32 genes compared to the mRNA expression levels of the same genes from the subject before the first administration of the at least one antibiotic. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the mRNA expression levels of CD64, PLXND1, HCA112, TLR2, CD163 and IL32 genes are detected in a sample from the subject before and after the first administration of the at least one antibiotic. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sample comprises blood, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage or urine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sample comprises one or more cells selected from the group consisting of: peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, and eosinophils. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sample is a PBMC sample isolated from the blood sample. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising measuring FEV 1  in the subject before and after administering the first administration of the least one antibiotic. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the least one antibiotic targets the subject's specific pathogens.