A PURIFIED 80 KDA PROTEIN IMPLICATED IN ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSMS, ANTIBODIES DIRECTED THERETO, AND USES THEREOF

摘要

This invention provides a purified human 70 kDa protein, which has been recalculated as 80 kDa based on different standards, and antibodies directed thereto. This invention further provides a method of isolating the antibody directed to the human 80 kDa protein using extracts of human abdominal aortic aneurysm. This invention provides a method of purifying an 80 kDa protein by affinity chromatography using the isolated antibody directed to the human 80 kDa protein. This invention provides a method of determining whether a human subject is predisposed to or has abdominal aortic aneurysm disease by detecting circulating antibody directed to the human 80 kDa protein. This invention further provides a method of alleviating aortic aneurysm disease in a human subject by administering the human 80 kDa protein to the subject under conditions that make the human subject tolerant to the human 80 kDa protein or by administering an effective dose of an immunosuppressant drug to the subject.