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SensiGen Secures Option for Licensing Lupus Biomarkers
By Trevor | July 11, 2007
Ann Arbor, Michigan-based SensiGen LLC has acquired an option to license a set of epigenetic biomarkers for the early detection and monitoring of lupus from the University of Michigan. The technology consists of “a patented panel of proprietary biomarkers for epigenetic variations of genes uniquely associated with Lupus along with related research assays.
We previously covered the epigenetics of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in June 2006 when a review article (published by researchers at the University of Michigan) concisely described the “epigenetic face” of the disease:
For instance, drugs that demethylate T cells, such as 5-azacytidine, are used by researchers to induce lupus-like disease in mice. Additionally, demethylation of certain gene promoter and regulatory sequences contributes to aberrant overexpression of various genes. Both of these findings suggest that DNA methylation may play a role in the development of lupus.
Histone modifications may also play a role in the development of SLE. SLE Th cells show abnormal expression of certain gene products involved in regulation of the immune system, but these effects can be reversed with treatment using a histone deacetylase inhibitor. This finding provides evidence that histone modifications, another epigenetic alteration, could play a role in the development of lupus as well.
Link to the SensiGen press release
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