BIOMARKERS USED TO DETECT AND MONITOR NEUROLOGICAL AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

Authors

Robert Powers, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Jay Reddy, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Teklab Gebregiworgis, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Chandirasegara Massilamany, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Arunakumar Gangaplara, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Zsolt Illes, Odense SV (DK)

Date of this Version

4-5-2016

Citation

United States Patent No.: US 9,304,123 B2

Apr. 5, 2016

Abstract

Biomarkers of neurological autoimmune diseases are described, and methods of using such biomarkers also are described.

Autoimmune diseases arise from an inappropriate immune response by the body against Substances or tissues normally found in the body. Neurological autoimmune diseases are those autoimmune diseases that affect some aspect of the neurological system (e.g., the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system). Biomarkers of one or more neu rological autoimmune diseases, especially those biomarkers that can be evaluated non-invasively, are useful in the art. Biomarkers of neurological autoimmune diseases are pro vided, and methods of using Such biomarkers also are pro vided. In one aspect, a method of determining if a patient is Suffering from, or is at risk of Suffering from, a neurological autoimmune disease is provided. Such a method includes collecting a urine sample from a patient; and determining the levels of one or more biomarkers in the patient’s urine, wherein the one or more biomarkers are selected from the group consisting of 3-ureidopropionic acid, guanidinoacetate and indoxyl sulfate. Generally, an increase in the level of the one or more biomarkers in the patient’s urine is indicative of the presence of a neurological autoimmune disease in the patient. A representative neurological autoimmune disease is multiple Sclerosis. In some embodiments, the biomarkers are 3-ureidopropi onic acid and guanidinoacetate. In some embodiments, the biomarkers are 3-ureidopropionic acid and indoxyl Sulfate. In Some embodiments, the biomarkers are guanidinoacetate and indoxyl Sulfate. In some embodiments, the biomarkers are 3-ureidopropionic acid, guanidinoacetate and indoxyl Sul fate. The levels of the one or more biomarkers can be deter mined, for example, using an immunoassay, chromatography, spectroscopy or NMR.