Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of native Stat-1 protein and/or any lower molecular weight fragments of Stat-1 protein present. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in the subject, e.g., to confirm an initial chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. In certain embodiments, the assay results are also used to predict the effectiveness of a particularly treatment protocol, e.g., to determine whether an interferon based treatment protocol will be effective. In addition, methods of Stat-1 based methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions are provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of native Stat-1 protein and/or any lower molecular weight fragments of Stat-1 protein present. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in the subject, e.g., to confirm an initial chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. In certain embodiments, the assay results are also used to predict the effectiveness of a particularly treatment protocol, e.g., to determine whether an interferon based treatment protocol will be effective. In addition, methods of Stat-1 based methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions are provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing/characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence and amount of intact (i.e., native) p53 protein and/or fragments thereof. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in a subject, and/or to determine appropriate treatments protocols. Also provided by the subject invention are methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions by enhancing p53 activity. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of low molecular actin fragments. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in the subject, e.g. to confirm an initial chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of low molecular actin fragments. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in the subject, e.g. to confirm an initial chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of native Stat-1 protein and/or any lower molecular weight fragments of Stat-1 protein present. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in the subject, e.g., to confirm an initial chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. In certain embodiments, the assay results are also used to predict the effectiveness of a particularly treatment protocol, e.g., to determine whether an interferon based treatment protocol will be effective. In addition, methods of Stat-1 based methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions are provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing/characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, the extracellular nuclease activity, measured directly and/or indirectly, of the subject is assayed and the resultant value is employed in the diagnosisis/characterization. More specifically, a sample, e.g., plasma or a fraction thereof, is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for nuclease activity, either directly or indirectly. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in a subject, and/or to determine appropriate treatments protocols. Also provided by the subject invention are methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions by enhancing extracellular nuclease activity. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing/characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence and amount of intact (i.e., native) p53 protein and/or fragments thereof. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in a subject, and/or to determine appropriate treatments protocols. Also provided by the subject invention are methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions by enhancing p53 activity. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.

Abstract: Methods are providing for characterizing multiple sclerosis disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have multiple sclerosis. The sample is then assayed for the presence of both high and low molecular proteins having RNAse L activity and a ratio of these two proteins is derived. The resultant ratio is then used to characterize the MS disease activity in the subject, e.g. to confirm an initial MS diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for the isolation of one or more components of a sample. The self contained device of the subject invention includes a reaction chamber, at least one reagent chamber containing a sealed, predetermined amount of reagent, at least one waste chamber, an entry port and a mechanism for moving the reaction chamber sequentially into fluid communication with each of these other components. Also provided are methods of using the subject devices to perform procedures in which an initial sample is sequentially subjected to one or more reagent addition and washing steps. The subject devices and methodology are particularly suited to the isolation of nucleic acids from physiological samples.