Optical Chip Test For T Cell Function IN HIV Patients

描述(由申请人提供)：这项建议解决了对 监测HIV感染者T细胞功能的简单、低成本诊断方法 病人。HIV患者接受高效抗逆转录病毒治疗的体会 治疗(HAART)表明，T细胞总数是有用的，但不够 衡量免疫系统功能状态的指标。一个更中肯的 指标将是艾滋病毒特异性记忆T细胞的数量和质量，以及 据信，这个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图谱。建议的诊断是 基于一种理想地适用于常规、低密度的新型光学芯片 阵列测试。不需要复杂的处理步骤或昂贵的 与常规高密度基因阵列相关的分析仪器 芯片，预计一次性光学芯片可以 批量生产，售价5美元。第一阶段计划将使用现有的LCMV鼠标 模型建立的可行性。一种用于量化的光学芯片样机 与CD8记忆T细胞功能相关的几个基因的表达谱将 被开发和评估。如果成功，后续的第二阶段计划将 专注于直接监测艾滋病毒感染者的记忆T细胞功能。 建议的商业应用： 监测HIV特异性T细胞功能的实用、低成本诊断将是调节接受HAART和其他治疗方案的患者的T细胞计数和病毒载量的有价值的辅助手段。此外，基本测试形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.