John A. Chiorini,Hongen Yin,Cuong Nguyen,Donald B. Bloch,Paul B. Yu
申请号:
US14858929
公开号:
US20160000794A1
申请日:
2015.09.18
申请国别(地区):
US
年份:
2016
代理人:
摘要:
The finding that patients with Sjögrens syndrome exhibit a statistically significant increase in expression of BMP6 in the salivary gland, relative to healthy control subjects, is described. Also described is the finding that overexpression of BMP6 in the salivary glands of mice results in an increase in electrical potential across the salivary gland. Methods of diagnosing a subject as having Sjögrens syndrome, or at risk for developing Sjögrens syndrome, by measuring the level of BMP6 expression in a salivary gland of a subject, measuring electrical potential in a salivary gland of a subject, or both, are described. Methods of treating a subject with Sjögrens syndrome, or methods of increasing salivary flow in a subject, by administering an agent that inhibits BMP6 expression or activity are also described. The use of XIST and MECP2 as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for male Sjögrens syndrome patients is further described.