The State University of New York

Allertech Laboratory Inc.

Eli Lilly and Company

University of Toronto

Biotechnology Research Partners, Ltd.

Peter Vadas

Waldemar Pruzanski

Jeffrey J Seilhamer

Lorne M Golub

Thomas F McNamara

Lorin K Johnson

Robert A Greenwald

Nangavarum S Ramamurthy

The invention provides a use of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity as a biomarker for severe or fatal anaphylaxis in a subject. The level of PAF-AH activity inversely correlates with the susceptibility to severe or fatal anaphylaxis. The use comprises assaying PAF-AH activity in a sample from the subject and comparing the measured activity to a reference value, wherein a lower level of measured PAF-AH activity relative to said reference level of PAF-AH activity indicates a presence of or susceptibility to severe or fatal anaphylaxis in the subject. A method for treating or preventing severe or fatal anaphylaxis in a subject is also provided. The method comprises increasing serum platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) concentration in the subject by administering to the subject, PAF-AH and/or a PAF receptor antagonist. A composition for treating severe or fatal anaphylaxis is also provided.

Use of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase as a biomarker for anaphylaxis

A method for determining a patient's susceptibility to anaphylaxis comprises assaying the activity of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity and comparing the measured activity to a reference value, wherein the level of PAF-AH activity inversely correlates with the susceptibility to anaphylaxis. The method further comprises determining the severity of anaphylaxis by correlating the degree of reduced PAF-AH activity to the reference value. The method further comprises measuring IgE concentration and comparing the measured concentration to a reference concentration. The invention further provides a method for diagnosing anaphylaxis in a patient comprising measuring the serum concentration of platelet activating factor (PAF) and comparing the measured concentration to a reference value, wherein the concentration of PAF correlates directly with severity of anaphylaxis. The invention also provides a kit for performing the required assay or assays.

Use of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase as biomarker for anaphylaxis

A method for treating mammals suffering from conditions associated with excess phospholipase A.sub.2 activity and/or production comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of a non-antimicrobial tetracycline sufficient to inhibit excess phospholipase A.sub.2 activity and/or production is disclosed. A pharmaceutical composition is also disclosed.

Inhibition of excessive phospholipase A.sub.2 activity and/or production

Antibodies that specifically bind to and inhibit the enzymatic activity of synovial phospholipase A.sub.2 Type A are described. The antibodies may be used in assays for detection of synovial phospholipase A.sub.2 in biological samples.

Antibodies that specifically bind to and inhibit human synovial

A method for treating mammals suffering from conditions associated with excess phospholipase A.sub.2 activity and/or production comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of a non-antimicrobial tetracycline sufficient to inhibit excess phospholipase A.sub.2 activity and/or production is disclosed.

Mammalian synovial phospholipase A.sub.2 (sPLA.sub.2) enzymes are provided, as well as DNA constructs encoding these enzymes, methods of producing the enzymes recombinantly, and antibodies thereto. Therapeutic methods employing anti-synovial phospholipase antibodies are also provided, in addition to diagnositc methods and other applications of sPLA.sub.2.

Growing community of inventors

Toronto, Canada

Peter Vadas