Optical Chip Test For T Cell Function IN HIV Patients

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案涉及以下需求： 一种简单、低成本的诊断方法，用于监测HIV感染者的T细胞功能 患者HIV患者接受高效抗逆转录病毒治疗的经验 HAART治疗（HAART）已经表明，总T细胞计数是有用的，但不足以 衡量免疫系统的功能状态。一个更相关的 指标将是艾滋病毒特异性记忆T细胞的数量和质量， 据信该亚群可以通过测量表达来确定， 与记忆T细胞功能相关的基因谱。建议的诊断是 基于一种新型的光学芯片，非常适合常规的低密度 阵列测试不需要复杂的加工步骤或昂贵的 与常规高密度阵列基因相关的分析仪器 芯片，并且预期一次性光学芯片可以 大规模生产<5美元。I期项目将使用现有的LCMV鼠标 模型建立可行性。一个原型光学芯片，用于量化 与CD8记忆T细胞功能相关的几个基因的表达谱将 开发和评估。如果成功，后续的第二阶段计划将 直接专注于监测HIV感染者的记忆T细胞功能。 拟定商业应用： 一个实用的，低成本的诊断监测艾滋病毒特异性T细胞功能将是一个有价值的辅助T细胞计数和病毒载量在调节患者接受HAART和其他治疗方案。 此外，基本的测试格式可以很容易地应用于其他免疫相关疾病，药物基因组学和临床试验。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal addresses the need for a simple, low-cost diagnostic to monitor T cell function in HIV-infected patients. Experience with HIV patients undergoing highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has shown that total T cell count is a useful but insufficient measure of the functional status of the immune system. A more pertinent indicator would be the quantity and quality of HIV-specific memory T cells, and it is believed this subpopulation can be determined by measuring the expression profile of genes linked to memory T cell function. The proposed diagnostic is based on a novel optical chip that is ideally suited for routine, low-density array testing. There is no need for the complex processing steps or expensive analytical instruments associated with conventional high-density array gene chips, and it is expected that the disposable optical chips can be mass-produced for <$5. The Phase I program will use an existing LCMV mouse model to establish feasibility. A prototype optical chip for quantifying the expression profile of several genes linked to CD8 memory T-cell function will be developed and assessed. If successful, a follow-on Phase II program will focus directly on monitoring memory T cell function in HIV-infected humans. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: A practical, low-cost diagnostic for monitoring HIV-specific T cell function would be a valuable adjunct to T cell counts and viral loads in regulating patients undergoing HAART and other treatment regimens. In addition, the basic test format could easily be applied to other immune-related disorders, pharmacogenomics and clinical trials.