Methods and compositions for diagnosing osteoarthritis in a feline

Abstract

Methods, compositions and kits for diagnosing osteoarthritis in a feline are disclosed. The methods of the invention comprise detecting differential expression of at least one biomarker in a body sample, preferably a blood sample, where the biomarker is differentially expressed in osteoarthritis.

What is claimed is:: 
     
         1 . A method of diagnosing OA in a feline comprising:
 (a) isolating nucleic acid from a body sample of a feline;   (b) determining the level of a nucleic acid encoding one or more biomarkers set out in  FIGS. 1-7  in a body sample from said feline; and   (c) comparing the level of nucleic acid in the body sample from said feline with levels in a control feline without OA, wherein differential expression of the nucleic acid between the individual and the control is indicative of OA in the feline.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of nucleic acid is determined using methods comprising the use of quantitative RT-PCR. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the level of nucleic acid is determined using methods comprising the use of microarrays. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said microarray comprises a plurality of isolated polynucleotides selected from the group consisting of RNA, DNA, cDNA, PCR products, or ESTs corresponding to one or more of the biomarkers of  FIGS. 1-7 . 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the body sample is a blood sample. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid is RNA. 
     
     
         7 . A composition comprising at least one or more isolated polynucleotides, wherein each isolated polynucleotide selectively hybridizes to a nucleic acid encoding a biomarker set out in  FIGS. 1-7  and wherein the composition permits measurement of the level of expression of at least one or more biomarkers in a body sample from a feline. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the isolated polynucleotide is RNA. 
     
     
         9 . A composition comprising at least one or more antibodies, wherein each antibody binds selectively to a protein product of a biomarker selected from the biomarkers set out in  FIGS. 1-7  and wherein the composition permits the measurement of the level of expression of at least one or more biomarkers in a body sample from a feline. 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 9 , wherein the antibodies are monoclonal antibodies. 
     
     
         11 . A kit for diagnosing OA in a feline, said kit comprising:
 (a) a microarray comprising a plurality of isolated polynucleotides selected from the group consisting of RNA, DNA, cDNA, PCR products, or ESTs corresponding to one or more of the biomarkers of  FIGS. 1-7 ; and/or   (b) a composition comprising at least one or more antibodies, wherein each antibody binds selectively to a protein product of a biomarker set out in  FIGS. 1-7     
       wherein components (a) or (b) may comprise a majority of the components of said kit. 
     
     
         12 . A method for identifying a component to be tested for an ability to treat or ameliorate osteoarthritis in a feline comprising:
 (a) contacting a cell capable of expressing an RNA or protein product of one or more OA biomarkers disclosed in  FIGS. 1-7  with a test component;   (b) determining the amount of said RNA and/or product produced in the cells contacted with the test component, and   (c) comparing the amount of said RNA and/or protein product in the cells contacted with the test component to the amount of the same said RNA or protein product present in a corresponding control cell that has not been contacted with the test component wherein if amount of the RNA or protein product is altered relative to the amount in the control, the component is identified as one to be tested for an ability to treat or ameliorate osteoarthritis in a feline.