Methods for the detection and treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders.Chronic inflammatory diseases afflict millions of people across the world leading to considerable suffering, economic loss and premature death. These diseases include inflammatory..

Methods for the detection and treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders.
Chronic inflammatory diseases afflict millions of people across the world leading to considerable suffering, economic loss and premature death. These diseases include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as well as many other debilitating disorders. Despite their importance and intensive research efforts, there have been relatively few innovative breakthroughs into the cause, treatment or cure of chronic inflammatory disorders. The present technology provides methods for the detection and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, in particular those of the lung or gastrointestinal tract. It further provides novel animal models that may prove useful for screening putative drug candidates that are able to treat or prevent these diseases.

Technology's Essence

The transcription factor Runx3 is involved in modulating inflammatory diseases such as IBD and COPD. Its vital role in immune-cell communications was demonstrated using Runx3 null mice, which suffer from pathological manifestations characteristic to these diseases. The present invention describes methods that utilize such mice as animal models for the testing of pharmaceutical agents for effectiveness in treating and/or preventing. Variations in the Runx3 gene regulatory regions are associated with a late onset form of asthma. These and other findings support the involvement of Runx3 in at least some forms of human inflammatory disease, making it a promising candidate for the development of therapeutic and diagnostic tools.

Applications

• Runx3 null mice can be used as a valid, reliable animal model for human T cell associated diseases such as IBD, gastric hyperplasia, asthma, and lung inflammation.
• Runx3 can be employed as a diagnostic marker for assessing predisposition to chronic inflammatory diseases.
• Runx3 can serve as an important target for clinical intervention when the pathophysiology involves over activated T cell mediated immune response.
• Runx3 can be administered/activated in conditions whereby T cells activation is required.

Advantanges

• Runx3 null mice lack problems associated with experimentally-induced animal models such as a transient inflammation period.

Pending ID: 2002018-00-00