COPD Diagnosis via TMSB15A Biomarker Expression Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are inadequate for early detection and identifying patients at risk of progressive lung damage, leading to delayed diagnosis and untreated irreversible damage.
Innovation Solution
The use of specific molecular biomarkers such as TMSB15A, DMBT1, KIAA1199, and others to determine gene expression levels in samples, allowing for the assessment of susceptibility to progressive or stable COPD through in vitro methods using primers, nucleic acid probes, microarrays, and antibodies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current diagnostic methods are used, then diagnosis can be performed, but early detection is insufficient and irreversible lung damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting molecular biomarkers (TMSB15A, DMBT1, KIAA1199, etc.) in sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid before clinical COPD symptoms manifest. This enables identification of patients at risk of developing progressive COPD, allowing intervention before irreversible lung damage occurs. The biomarker expression patterns provide early warning signals that precede traditional clinical diagnosis.
2Reliability
If molecular biomarkers are used, then early diagnosis and risk assessment are enabled, but diagnostic complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the diagnostic approach by focusing on specific molecular biomarkers (TMSB15A, DMBT1, KIAA1199, DPP6, SLC51B, NUDT11, ELF5, AZGP1, PRRX1, AQP3, SFN, GPR110, GDF15, RASGRF2, RND1, PLA1A, FGG, CEACAM5, HYAL2, AHRR, CXCL3, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYP1A2, CST6, NTRK2, COMP, ITGA10, CTHRC1, TAL1, FIBIN, BEX5, BEX1, ESM1, and GHRL) rather than requiring comprehensive genomic sequencing. This targeted biomarker panel maintains high diagnostic reliability while reducing technical complexity compared to whole-genome analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as an intermediary medium to access molecular biomarkers. This intermediary approach avoids the need for invasive lung biopsies or complex tissue analysis, simplifying the diagnostic process while maintaining the ability to detect early molecular changes associated with COPD susceptibility and progression.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to in vitro methods for the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), wherein the expression of the marker gene TMSB15A is determined. In particular, the invention relates to an in vitro diagnostic method of assessing the susceptibility of a subject to develop progressive COPD involving the appearance of irreversible lung damage, wherein the expression of the marker gene TMSB15A and optionally one or more further marker genes selected from DMBT1, KIAA1 T99, DPP6, SLC51 B, NUDT1 1, ELF5, AZGP1, PRRX1, AQP3, SFN, GPR1 10, GDF15, RASGRF2, RND1, PLA1A, FGG, CEACAM5, HYAL2, AHRR, CXCL3, CYP1A1, CYP1 B1, CYP1A2, CST6, NTRK2, COMP, ITGA10, CTHRC1, TAL1, FIBIN, BEX5, BEX1, ESM1 and GHRL is determined. The invention also relates to an in vitro method of diagnosing stable COPD or assessing the susceptibility of a subject to develop stable COPD, wherein the expression of TMSB15A and optionally one or more further marker genes selected from DMBT1, KIAA1 199, DPP6, SLC51 B, NUDT1 1, ELF5, AZGP1, PRRX1, AQP3, SFN, GPR1 10, GDF15, RASGRF2, RND1, PLA1A, FGG, CEACAM5, HYAL2, AHRR, CXCL3, CYP1A1, CYP1 B1, CYP1A2, CST6, NTRK2, COMP, ITGA10, CTHRC1, TAL1, FIBIN, BEX5, BEX1, ESM1 and GHRL is determined. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of primers for transcripts of the aforementioned marker genes, the use of nucleic acid probes to transcripts of these marker genes, the use of microarrays comprising nucleic acid probes to transcripts of these marker genes, and the use of antibodies against the proteins expressed from these marker genes in corresponding in vitro methods. In vitro methods of monitoring the progression of COPD are also provided, in which the expression of marker genes according to the invention is determined.