Process to study changes in gene expression in granulocytic cells

摘要

The present invention comprises methods of identifying an agent that modulates sterile inflammatory disease by preparing a gene expression profile of a granulocytic cell population isolated from a subject having a sterile inflammatory disease; treating it with an agent; and comparing that profile to a profile prepared from untreated granulocytic cells isolated from a subject known to have sterile inflammatory disease. The invention also includes methods to identify such agents by treating an isolated polymorphonuclear white blood cell population from a patient with a sterile inflammatory disease with an agent and comparing it to a gene expression profile of an untreated polymorponuclear white blood cell population isolated from a patient with a sterile inflammatory disease. Agents that modulate glomerulonephritis are of particular importance.