NOVEL MOLECULE AND DIAGNOSIS METHOD

摘要

A substantially isolated dimer comprising first and second cross-linked polypeptides, wherein said polypeptides comprise the extracellular domain portions of the HLA-B27 heavy chain and are capable of binding a HLA-B27 epitope, or a substantially isolated functional dimeric or multimeric analogue thereof which is capable of binding said HLA-B27 epitope and/or competes for binding to a specific receptor for said dimer. The dimer can be used to determine the onset of, or predisposition to a spondyloarthropathy. The dimer can also be used as a treatment or prophylactic for a spondyloarthropathy.