Scd fingerprints

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of cluster of differentiation (CD) molecules in detecting the presence and progression of one or more disease states in an individual. In particular it relates to the use of profiles of shed CD (sCD) molecules in detecting and assessing the progression of one or more disease states in an individual. Further uses of sCD profiles according to the present invention are also described.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method of obtaining a disease-specific shed CD (sCD) fingerprint from an individual suspected of having a disease, said method comprising:
 (a) obtaining from one or more individuals that do not have said disease a first reference sCD fingerprint that comprises first reference levels of at least five sCDs   (b) obtaining from one or more individuals known to have said disease a second reference sCD fingerprint that comprises second reference levels of said at least five sCDs;   (c) measuring in parallel said at least five sCDs from said individual suspected of having said disease, wherein the measuring is by an immunoassay of flow cytometric measurement of said at least five sCDs; and   (d) comparing said at least five sCDs measured in (c) with the first reference sCD fingerprint of (a) and the second reference sCD fingerprint of (b), wherein a difference in the levels of said at least five sCDs in (c) as compared to (a), and/or a correspondence in the levels of said at least five sCds in (d) and (b) provides said disease-specific sCD fingerprint;   wherein the sCD levels are measured in samples of one or more body fluids selected from the group consisting of whole blood, plasma or serum from said one or more individuals from (a) and (b), and said individual from (c); and   wherein said disease is selected from the group consisting of: infection, neoplastic, autoimmune, metabolic, immunological, degenerative, psychological, psychiatric, iatrogenic, inflammatory, drug or toxin related, vascular, traumatic and endocrine diseases, Bence Jones Proteinuria, Crohn's Disease chronic renal failure, Diabetic Nephropathy, Cardiac pathology, liver damage, macrocytic anaemia, Pulmonary Embolism/Deep Vein Thrombosis and appendicitis.   
     
     
         26 . The method according  claim 25  wherein the neoplastic disease is selected from the group consisting of: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, Colorectal cancer, Lymphoma, and Prostate Cancer. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the sCDs comprise five or more selected from the group consisting: sCD14, sCD25, sCD31, sCD44, sCD50, sCD54, sCD62E, sCD62L, sCD86, sCD95, sCD106, sCD116, sCD124, sCD138, sCD141, sCD40L, sCD8, sCD23, sCD30, sCD40 and their homologues present in other mammalian or non-mammalian species. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the body fluid is serum. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein sCD levels are measured using an immunoassay or flow cytometric measurement comprising multiplexed particle flow cytometry. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein the body fluid is serum. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein the body fluid is serum. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the infection is tuberculosis. 
     
     
         33 . A method of using the disease-specific sCD fingerprint obtained according to  claim 25  to identify said individual suspected of having a disease as:
 (i) having said disease when said sCD levels in (c) are different from (a); or 
 (ii) not having said disease when said sCD levels in c) are not different from step (a). 
 
     
     
         34 . A method of using the disease-specific sCD fingerprint obtained according to claim  2  to generate a database comprising pathological and/or normal sCD fingerprint patterns. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the database is an integrated clinical database further comprising at least one of patient information or disease information.