Marker associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Abstract

Disclosed is a novel NASH marker for use in a method for detecting NASH or evaluating the severity of NASH, which utilizes at least one factor selected from the group consisting of an IL-1 receptor antagonist, sCD40, HMGB1, sPLA2 group IIA and an sPLA2 activity as the marker. Also disclosed is a method for detecting NASH or evaluating the severity of NASH in a subject, which utilizes the marker.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for evaluating therapeutic effects on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in a subject, said method comprising:
 measuring at least one member selected from the group consisting of IL-2, apolipoprotein A-IV, apolipoprotein C-II, CCL2, thrombospondin 1, trehalase, MMP12, MMP13, TIMP1, complement factor D, lipoprotein lipase, alpha chain of IL-3 receptor, locus D of lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, COL1aI, member 19 of TNFR superfamily (TAJ), TNFAIP6, VLDLR, Members 1, 2, 3, and 12 of EarA family, INSL5, TGFβ2, HAMP, lipase H, and CYP7BI in the biological specimen from the subject as a marker.   
     
     
         2 . A method for evaluating therapeutic effects on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in a subject, said method comprising:
 measuring at least a first factor selected from the group consisting of IL-I receptor antagonist, sCD40, HMGB1, sPLA2 group IIA, sPLA2 activity, or a second factor selected from the group consisting of IL-2, apolipoprotein apolipoprotein C-II, CCL2, thrombospondin 1, trehalase, MMP12, MMP13, TIMP1, complement factor D, lipoprotein lipase, alpha chain of IL-3 receptor, locus D of lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, COLlaI, member 19 of TNFR superfamily (TAJ), TNFAIP6, VLDLR, Members 1, 2, 3, and 12 of EarA family, INSL5, TGF β2, HAMP, lipase H, and CYP7BI, in a biological specimen from the subject as a marker at least twice at a certain interval, and   comparing the measured values.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein a pharmaceutical composition containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of icosapentaenoic acid and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof as its effective component is administered to the subject for treating the NASH, and at least one member selected at least from the second factor group is used as the marker. 
     
     
         4 . An assay kit for detection of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or evaluation of seriousness thereof or therapeutic effects thereon comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof against at least one member selected from the group consisting of IL-I receptor antagonist, sCD40, HMGBI, sPLA2 group IIA, IL-2, apolipoprotein A-IV, apolipoprotein C-II, CCL2, thrombospondin 1, trehalase, MMP12, MMP13, TIMP1, complement factor D, lipoprotein lipase, alpha chain of IL-3 receptor, locus D of lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, COL1aI, member 19 of TNFR superfamily (TAJ), TNFAIP6, VLDLR, members 1, 2, 3, and 12 of EarA family, INSL5, TGF β2, HAMP, lipase H, and CYP7BI, and/or a substrate for measuring sPLA2 activity.