AUTOANTIBODIES BINDING TO NEGATIVE ELONGATION FACTOR E (NELF-E) FOR DIAGNOSING SARCOIDOSIS

摘要

The present inventions relates generally to methods for diagnosing the presence or the risk of development or the therapy control of sarcoidosis in a subject, in particular, in mammals. In addition, the present invention relates to test kits for use in the diagnosis of the presence or the risk of development, or for the therapy control of sarcoidosis in a subject. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for diagnosing the presence or the risk of development, or for the therapy control of sarcoidosis in a subject analyzing for the presence of antibodies against NELF-E or immunoreactive peptides thereof or NELF-E analog protein, preferably bacterial analog protein, or immunoreactive peptides thereof, in a subject. The presence of antibodies against NELF-E or immunoreactive peptides thereof, is indicative for the presence or the risk of development, or for the therapy control of sarcoidosis. In particular, detection of the presence of antibodies against sarcoidosis or immunoreactive peptides thereof, allows early diagnosis of sarcoidosis.