Methods and compositions for diagnosing neurodegenerative disease

Abstract

Methods and compositions for detecting and diagnosing Parkinson's disease are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of diagnosing Parkinson's disease in a subject said method comprising detecting in a biological sample obtained from said subject at least one marker from the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR-4) or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (alpha) (PIK3R1) signaling pathways,
 wherein a modulation in the amount of said marker compared to healthy individuals is indicative of Parkinson's disease.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said marker is selected from the group consisting of PIK3R1, CXCR4, integrin alpha-V (ITGAV), integrin alpha-E (ITGAE), integrin beta-7 (ITGB7), integrin alpha-4 (ITGA4), cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), cluster of differentiation 45 (CD45), forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), fibronectin 1 (FN1), CD27, CD4, CD25, CD127, and FAS. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said marker is selected from the group consisting of CD4, CD127, CD25, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD31, FAS, CD27, integrin beta-7, and integrin alpha-4. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said marker is selected from the group consisting of CD45RA, CD45RO, CD31, FAS, integrin beta-7, and integrin alpha-4. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said method comprises detecting at least three of said markers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of modulation in the amount of said marker correlates to the severity of Parkinson's disease in said patient. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample is blood. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  comprising detecting said marker with an antibody immunologically specific for said marker. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  comprising detecting said marker with a nucleic acid molecule that specifically hybridizes with a nucleic acid molecule encoding said marker. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said nucleic acid molecules are probes or primers. 
     
     
         11 . A method of diagnosing Parkinson's disease in a subject said method comprising detecting effector memory T cells (Tem) in a biological sample obtained from said subject,
 wherein an increase in the amount of said Tem compared to healthy individuals is indicative of Parkinson's disease.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of increase in the amount of said Tem correlates to the severity of Parkinson's disease in said patient. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said biological sample is blood. 
     
     
         14 . A method of diagnosing Parkinson's disease in a subject said method comprising measuring the function of regulatory T cells (Treg) in a biological sample obtained from said subject, wherein decreased Treg function is indicative of PD. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the amount of decrease in Treg function correlates to the severity of Parkinson's disease in said patient. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said biological sample is blood. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising measuring the ability of said Treg to suppress responder T cell (Tresp) proliferation. 
     
     
         18 . A composition comprising at least one antibody for at least one marker selected from the group consisting of PIK3R1, CXCR4, integrin alpha-V (ITGAV), integrin alpha-E (ITGAE), integrin beta-7 (ITGB7), integrin alpha-4 (ITGA4), cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), cluster of differentiation 45 (CD45), forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), fibronectin 1 (FN1), CD27, CD4, CD127, CD25, and FAS. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein said marker is selected from the group consisting of CD4, CD127, CD25, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD31, FAS, CD27, integrin beta-7, and integrin alpha-4. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein said marker is selected from the group consisting of CD45RA, CD45RO, CD31, FAS, integrin beta-7, and integrin alpha-4. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 20 , comprising at least three of said markers. 
     
     
         22 . A composition comprising at least one nucleic acid probe for at least one marker selected from the group consisting of PIK3R1, CXCR4, integrin alpha-V (ITGAV), integrin alpha-E (ITGAE), integrin beta-7 (ITGB7), integrin alpha-4 (ITGA4), cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), cluster of differentiation 45 (CD45), forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), fibronectin 1 (FN1), CD27, CD4, CD127. CD25, and FAS. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said marker is selected from the group consisting of CD4, CD127, CD25, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD31, FAS, CD27, integrin beta-7, and integrin alpha-4. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said marker is selected from the group consisting of CD45RA, CD45RO, CD31, FAS, integrin beta-7, and integrin alpha-4. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , comprising at least three of said markers. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said nucleic acid probes are attached to a solid support. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein said solid support comprises up to 100 nucleic acid probes.