University of South Florida

North Shore-long Island Jewish Research Institute

Siamak Tabibzadeh

Ravi Kothapalli

James M Mason

The subject invention pertains to methods and reagents for the diagnosis of female infertility, prognostic indicators for female infertility, compounds for the treatment of female infertility, compounds and methods for contraception. Methods and compounds are based on the levels of ebaf in endometrial tissue. Methods for diagnosing endometrial receptivity and bleeding function by screening a biological sample such as an endometrial tissue sample, or bodily fluid for the presence of ebaf. A contraceptive compound containing an effective amount of ebaf and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A diagnostic kit for timing contraception containing reagents for screening a sample for the presence of ebaf. A method of treating endometrial irregularities by down-regulating the expression of ebaf.

Diagnostic markers of human female infertility

A method for the early diagnosing of selected adenocarcinomas in a human comprising the steps of removing a bodily sample from the human, and assaying the bodily sample for elevated expression of a specific gene. The gene being assayed for in the bodily sample is the TGFB-4 gene (hereinafter referred to as the endometrial bleeding associated factor (ebaf) gene. The bodily sample can be tissue from a specific organ in the body, or a blood sample. Increased levels of ebaf in the sample relative to basal levels may be indicative of a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon or ovaries, or an adenocarcinoma of the testis.

Method for diagnosing selected adenocarcinomas

A method for the early diagnosing of selected adenocarcinomas in a human comprising the steps of removing a bodily sample from the human, and assaying the bodily sample for elevated expression of a specific gene. The gene being assayed for in the,bodily sample is the TGFB-4 gene (hereinafter referred to as the endometrial bleeding associated factor (ebaf) gene. The bodily sample can be tissue from a specific organ in the body, or a blood sample. Increased levels of ebaf in the sample relative to basal levels may be indicative of a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon or ovaries, or an adenocarcinoma of the testis.

Nucleic acids encoding an endometrial bleeding associated factor (EBAF)

Methods and reagents for the diagnosis of female infertility, prognostic indicators for female infertility, compounds for the treatment of female infertility, compounds and methods for contraception. Methods and compounds are based on the levels of ebaf in endometrial tissue. Methods for diagnosing endometrial receptivity and bleeding function by screening a biological sample such as an endometrial tissue sample, or bodily fluid for the presence of ebaf. A contraceptive compound containing an effective amount of ebaf and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A diagnostic kit for timing contraception containing reagents for screening a sample for the presence of ebaf. A method of treating endometrial irregularities by down-regulating the expression of ebaf.

The present invention provides a method of inducing growth or enhancing survival of nervous tissue comprising contacting the nervous tissue with an amount of ebaf effective to induce the growth or enhance the survival of the nervous tissue. The present invention also provides a method for treating a subject having damaged or degenerated nervous tissue comprising administering to the subject an amount of ebaf effective to treat the damaged or degenerated nervous tissue in the subject. The present invention further provides a method for treating a neurodegenerative disease in a subject comprising administering an amount of ebaf effective to treat the neurodegenerative disease. The present invention still further provides a method for preventing the onset or reducing the severity of damaged or degenerated nervous tissue in a subject comprising administering an amount of ebaf effective to prevent the onset or reduce the severity of the damaged or degenerated nervous tissue. Finally, the present invention provides a method for inducing growth or enhancing survival of nervous tissue comprising contacting the nervous tissue with a modulator of ebaf expression in an amount effective to induce or enhance expression of ebaf and induce the growth or enhance the survival of the nervous tissue.

Method for inducing growth and enhancing survival of nervous tissue

A method for the early diagnosing of selected adenocarcinomas in a human comprising the steps of removing a bodily sample from the human, and assaying the bodily sample for elevated expression of a specific gene. The gene being assayed for in the, bodily sample is the TGFB-4 gene (hereinafter referred to as the endometrial bleeding associated factor (ebaf) gene. The bodily sample can be tissue from a specific organ in the body, or a blood sample. Increased levels of ebaf in the sample relative to basal levels may be indicative of a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon or ovaries, or an adenocarcinoma of the testis.

The present invention provides a method for inhibiting activity of TGF-&bgr;, comprising contacting tissue expressing TGF-&bgr; with an amount of ebaf or an ebaf analogue. The present invention further provides a method for treating a condition associated with overactivity of TGF-&bgr;, particularly fibrosis, a defect in cell proliferation, or a coagulation defect. The present invention also provides a method for inhibiting activity of TGF-&bgr;, comprising contacting tissue expressing TGF-&bgr; with a modulator of ebaf expression, or a modulator of expression of an ebaf analogue. The present invention is further directed to a method for treating fibrosis in a subject in need of treatment, comprising administering to the subject an amount of ebaf or an ebaf analogue effective to treat the fibrosis. Finally, the present invention provides a method for treating a defect in cell proliferation in a subject in need of treatment, comprising administering to the subject an amount of ebaf or an ebaf analogue effective to treat the defect in cell proliferation.

Inhibition of TGF-&bgr; and uses thereof

Nucleic acids encoding an endometrial bleeding associated factor (ebaf)

A method for the early diagnosing of selected adenocarcinomas in a human comprising the steps of removing a bodily sample from the human, and assaying the bodily sample for elevated expression of a specific gene, the gene being assayed for in the bodily sample is the TGFB-4 gene (hereinafter referred to as the endometrial bleeding associated factor (ebaf) gene. The bodily sample can be tissue from a specific organ in the body, or a blood sample. Increased levels of ebaf in the sample relative to basal levels may be indicative of a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon or ovaries, or an adenocarcinoma of the testis.

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Albertson, NY, United States of America

Siamak Tabibzadeh