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Prevotella copri and Enhanced Susceptibility to Arthritis

详细技术说明

The inventors have described methods for the diagnosis and prognosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

*Abstract

TechnologyOverview

RA is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects thesynovial joints. Roughly 1% of the Caucasian population is afflicted with thedisease, which is more common in women than men. Most patients are diagnosedbetween 30-55 years of age, and the incidence of RA increases with age. Althoughthe exact cause of the disease is unknown, certain genetic and infectiousfactors have been implicated. Soluble cytokines and chemokines, such as IL-1βand TNFα,are also associated with RA. RA may manifest itself as a mild, self-limitingarthritis to rapidly progressing multi-system inflammation. RA is treated withnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs,steroids and analgesics.

The RA test measures rheumatoidfactor – the IgM autoantibody reactive with the Fc region epitopes of the IgGmolecule. However, these antibodies can be detected in normal healthy individuals,and hence have low disease specificity. New methods for the accurate diagnosisof RA are therefore urgently required.

Animal models have suggested a rolefor intestinal bacteria in supporting the systemic immune response required forjoint inflammation. The inventors performed high throughput 16S and shotgunsequencing of samples from RA patients and controls and identified Prevotella copri (P. copri) as strongly correlated with disease in new onset RA(NORA) patients. The inventors also identified 17 unique P. copri open reading frames that correlated with disease.Colonization of mice showed that P. coprican dominate the intestinal microbiota resulting in an increased sensitivity tocolitis and inflammatory arthritis.

Potential Applications

This invention could be used as adiagnostic indicator for RA onset, as a predictive indicator for RA onset insusceptible individuals and as a prognostic indicator for patients alreadyreceiving treatment.

*Licensing

Brian J. Kelly, Directorbjk44@cornell.edu646-962-7045

其他

Publications

Expansion of Intestinal Prevotella copri correlates withenhanced susceptibility to Arthritis. Scher J.U. et. al., eLife, 2013; 2: e01202

US Patent Application

国家/地区

美国