Preeti Lal

G protein-coupled receptors

The invention provides human G-protein coupled receptors (GCREC) and polynucleotides which identify and encode GCREC. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for diagnosing, treating, or preventing disorders associated with aberrant expression of GCREC.

Noninvasive discrimination of rejection in cardiac allograft recipients using gene expression profiling

Rejection diagnosis by endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is invasive, expensive and variable. We investigated gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to discriminate ISHLT grade 0 rejection (quiescence) from moderate/severe rejection (ISHLT ≥3A). Patients were followed prospectively with blood sampling at post‐transplant visits. Biopsies were graded by ISHLT criteria locally and by three independent pathologists blinded to clinical data. Known alloimmune pathways and leukocyte microarrays identified 252 candidate genes for which real‐time PCR assays were developed. An 11 gene real‐time PCR test was derived from a training set (n = 145 samples, 107 patients) using linear discriminant analysis (LDA), converted into a score (0–40), and validated prospectively in an independent set (n = 63 samples, 63 patients). The test distinguished biopsy‐defined moderate/severe rejection from quiescence (p = 0.0018) in the validation set, and had agreement of 84% (95% CI 66% C94%) with grade ISHLT ≥3A rejection. Patients >1 year post‐transplant with scores below 30 (approximately 68% of the study population) are very unlikely to have grade ≥3A rejection (NPV = 99.6%). Gene expression testing can detect absence of moderate/severe rejection, thus avoiding biopsy in certain clinical settings. Additional clinical experience is needed to establish the role of molecular testing for clinical event prediction and immunosuppression management.

Microtubule-associated protein

Brain tissue of subjects with Alzheimers disease (AD) differs from normal brain tissue by accumulation of abnormal filamentous elements in neurons to form neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and extracellularly to form amyloid in senile plaques. Alzheimer neurofibrillary degeneration involves posttranslational modification of tau proteins by different mechanisms. Phosphorylated sites in paired helical filaments (PHFs)-tau have been identified, most of which reside at regions flanking the microtubule binding domain. Multiple sites for glycation were identified in the tau molecule as well. Many of the glycation sites were distributed within the microtubule binding domain. These modifications alter the function of tau by decreasing its accessibility to tubulin binding, leading to a reduction in microtubule polymerization and stability. These posttranslational modifications also affect the degradation of tau by proteases. Depending on the acidity of the environment in which the tau molecule resides, proteolytic degradation of tau could generate fragments competent for the assembly of filamentous structures. It is found that development of agents capable of preventing or reducing undesirable modification or degradation of tau could be of therapeutic value in treating AD.

Intracellular signaling molecules

Various embodiments of the invention provide human intracellular signaling molecules (INTSIG) and polynucleotides which identify and encode INTSIG. Embodiments of the invention also provide expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. Other embodiments provide methods for diagnosing, treating, or preventing disorders associated with aberrant expression of INTSIG.

Clinical Implications and Longitudinal Alteration of Peripheral Blood Transcriptional Signals Indicative of Future Cardiac Allograft Rejection

BACKGROUND We have previously demonstrated that a peripheral blood transcriptional profile using 11 distinct genes predicts onset of cardiac allograft rejection weeks to months prior to the actual event. METHODS In this analysis, we ascertained the performance of this transcriptional algorithm in a Bayesian representative population: 28 cardiac transplant recipients who progressed to moderate to severe rejection; 53 who progressed to mild rejection; and 46 who remained rejection-free. Furthermore, we characterized longitudinal alterations in the transcriptional gene expression profile before, during and after recovery from rejection. RESULTS In this patient cohort, we found that a gene expression score (range 0 to 40) of or =3A) rejection; 16 of 53 (30%) from the intermediate group (those who progressed to ISHLT Grade 1B or 2) and 13 of 46 (28%) controls (who remained Grade 0 or 1A) had scores < or =20. A gene score of > or =30 was associated with progression to moderate to severe rejection in 58% of cases. These two extreme scores (< or =20 or > or =30) represented 44% of the cardiac transplant population within 6 months post-transplant. In addition, longitudinal gene expression analysis demonstrated that baseline scores were significantly higher for those who went on to reject, remained high during an episode of rejection, and dropped post-treatment for rejection (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The use of gene expression profiling early after transplantation allows for separation into low-, intermediate- or high-risk categories for future rejection, permitting development of discrete surveillance strategies.

G-protein coupled receptors

G-Protein-coupled receptors mediate many of the hypnotic and analgesic actions of the drugs employed in anesthesia. Notably, opioid agonists represent the most successful and efficacious class of analgesic agents employed over the last century. Also, major clinical advances have been made by the study of alpha(2) adrenoceptor agonists, which possess both hypnotic and analgesic qualities that are being increasingly exploited in both anesthetic and critical care settings. Furthermore orexin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (B), and muscarinic cholinergic receptors have been identified as potential anesthetic targets; clinical exploitation of ligands at these receptors may lead to important advances in anesthetic pharmacology. In this review we discuss the relevant molecular and neural network pharmacology of anesthetic agents acting at G-protein-coupled receptors.