In Vitro MMP Profiling for Ulcerative Colitis Anti-TNF Response

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly ulcerative colitis, lack reliable biomarkers to predict patient response to anti-TNF treatments, leading to ineffective treatments and undesirable side effects for non-responder patients.

Innovation Solution

An in vitro method using the expression levels of specific matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) such as MME, MMP2, MMP3, MMP9, MMP10, MMP12, MMP19, AGTPBP1, PHEX, MEP1A, HTRA1, and ATP23 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to predict the response to anti-TNF therapy, with higher expression indicating non-response and lower expression indicating response.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If anti-TNF therapy is administered to all ulcerative colitis patients, then more patients may benefit from effective treatment, but non-responder patients experience unnecessary side effects and economic waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidside effects in non-responders

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by measuring MMP expression levels in patient samples before initiating anti-TNF therapy. This predictive assessment allows clinicians to identify non-responder patients in advance, preventing them from receiving ineffective treatment and its associated side effects. The method performs the prediction action before the actual treatment decision is made.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If predictive biomarkers are implemented to identify non-responder patients, then side effects and economic waste are reduced, but the complexity of the diagnostic process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveside effects and economic wasteVSAvoiddiagnostic process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex clinical assessment and trial-and-error treatment approaches with a molecular biology-based diagnostic system. By measuring MMP expression levels through in vitro methods, the system substitutes subjective or经验-based medical decision-making with objective molecular markers, simplifying the overall diagnostic workflow despite the added laboratory step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If invasive methods like colonoscopy are used to obtain tissue samples for biomarker analysis, then reliable predictive data can be obtained, but patient discomfort and procedural risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiomarker prediction accuracyVSAvoidpatient comfort and procedural simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the diagnostic function from invasive colonoscopic procedures by using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as the sample source. Instead of requiring tissue biopsy from the colon, the method extracts predictive information from easily obtainable blood samples, maintaining measurement precision while dramatically improving ease of operation and patient comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4614151A1In vitro method for predicting the response of a patient suffering from ulcerative colitis to a treatment with Anti- TNF antibodies

Publication Date: 2025.09.10 FUNDACION INST DE INVESTIGACION SANITARIA DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (FIDIS)

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E~1F

AI summary

The present invention refers to an in vitro method for predicting the response of a patient suffering from ulcerative colitis to a treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antibodies.