NU2022-232
INVENTORS
Ankit Bharat*
Yuanqing Yan
SHORT DESCRIPTION
A robust and reliable biomarker for diagnosing and predicting lung disease
ABSTRACT
The lack of robust biomarkers for lung diseases is a pressing challenge. A team of scientists at Northwestern University has identified the protein serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 1 (SPINK1) as a quantifiable biomarker for acute and chronic lung diseases. Under normal conditions, SPINK1 exhibits relatively high expression in specific tissues like the pancreas, liver, colon, and other gastrointestinal tissues, but little to no expression has been observed in the lungs.
By quantifying SPINK1 levels in the bronchoalveolar fluid of patients with chronic lung disease, the team observed that SPINK1 is highly concentrated in lungs under pathological conditions. Single-cell RNA-Seq studies showed the enriched expression of SPINK1 in monocyte-derived macrophages and a subset of aberrant epithelial cells, playing a significant role in pulmonary fibrosis progression. In preclinical studies, the overexpression of SPINK1 was associated with lung function deterioration and increased production and accumulation of collagen, thus linking SPINK1 with lung disease progression. SPINK1 expression can be measured using routine analytical techniques such as enzyme-linked imunnosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction. With improved quantification accuracy, this biomarker provides a novel method to diagnose lung disease and to gauge the effectiveness of treatments for chronic and acute lung disease.
APPLICATIONS
Diagnostic biomarker for acute and chronic lung disease
Predictive biomarker for assessing effectiveness of treatments
Prognostic marker for predicting future clinical events
ADVANTAGES
Applicable to multiple types of lung disease
Reliable diagnostic indicator
Versatile analysis methods
PUBLICATIONS
None
IP STATUS
Provisional patent application filed.