METHOD FOR MONITORING GLUTAMINE SYNTHETASE LEVELS

摘要

The present invention relates to a method for monitoring intestinal glutamine synthetase levels in a mammal, particularly in a human subject, and is useful for detecting intestinal glutamine synthetase deficiency. The method is based on determining glutamate levels in the subject under controlled fasting and postprandial conditions after administration of a predetermined quantity of a glutamate containing protein composition. The method is useful for quantifying the ability of the mammal to metabolize dietary glutamate as a diagnostic marker for predicting the onset of or propensity for developing a central nervous system (CNS), psychotic, or neurological disorder, associated with glutamate toxicity. The method is also useful for designing regimens for rectifying glutamine synthetase deficiency levels in a mammal subject in order to treat or prevent such a disorder. This method and its corresponding quantification can be derived manually using data from current laboratory equipment, bio test chips, or it can be automated into a medical device or a laboratory apparatus complete with hardware and software for measurements with computational output showing quantification, diagnostic range or deficiency levels. Another advantage of this method is that because it detects glutamate toxicity, it can potentially detect and prevent the onset of neurological disease early on, before physical symptoms are manifested.