Abstract: Described are methods for predicting a clinical response to B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapies (BCIDT) using expression levels of genes of the Type I INF pathway. In another aspect, disclosed is a method for evaluating a pharmacological effect of a treatment with B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapy. More particularly, it relates to methods for prognosticating the clinical response of a patient to treatment with a soluble BCID or TCID agent, the method including obtaining at least two samples from the patient wherein a first sample has not been exposed to a soluble BCID or TCID agent and wherein at least a second sample has been exposed to a soluble BCID or TCID agent, determining the level of an IFN (preferably type I) response in the at least two samples, comparing the level of the IFN (preferably type I) response in the first sample with the level of the IFN (e.g., type I) response in the at least second sample and prognosticating the clinical response from the comparison.

Abstract: The invention in one aspect provides a method for classifying cells from a human individual said method comprising: providing a sample comprising cells from said individual that are typically responsive to exposure to a type I interferon; determining a level of activity of a pathway that is modulated by type I interferon; and classifying said cells on the basis of the determined level of activity. Cells present in said sample are preferably cultured said cells in the presence of a type I interferon prior to determining a level of activity of said pathway. This is activity is preferably compared to the activity of said pathway in cells in said sample prior to said culture. Preferably the sample is from an individual that is not treated with a type I interferon prior to collecting said sample. Preferably the method is used to determine, prior to initiating treatment with a type I interferon, whether said individual is likely to be a good, a normal or a poor responder to the contemplated treatment.

Abstract: Described are methods for predicting a clinical response to B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapies (BCIDT) using expression levels of genes of the Type I INF pathway. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for evaluating a pharmacological effect of a treatment with B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapy. More in particular, it relates to a method for prognosticating the clinical response of a patient to treatment with a soluble BCID or TCID agent, the method comprising the steps of obtaining at least two samples from the patient wherein a first sample has not been exposed to a soluble BCID or TCID agent and wherein at least a second sample has been exposed to a soluble BCID or TCID agent, determining the level of an IFN (preferably type I) response in the at least two samples, comparing the level of the IFN (preferably type I) response in the first sample with the level of the IFN (e.g.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for predicting a clinical response to B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapies (BCIDT) using expression levels of genes of the Type I INF pathway. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for evaluating a pharmacological effect of a treatment with B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining whether an individual has an increased risk of developing symptoms of a chronic autoimmune disease comprising determining in a sample of said individual the levels of expression products of a collection of genes and determining whether the expression products are present at a level that is different when compared to the level of the same expression products of a control. Said collection of genes are selected from the group consisting of genes involved in the cellular process of (i) IFN-mediated immunity, (ii) hematopoiesis, (iii) B-cell mediated immunity and/or (iv) cytokine mediated immunity, wherein higher levels of expression products of genes involved in IFN-mediated immunity, hematopoiesis and cytokines are predictive for an increased risk and wherein higher levels of expression products of genes involved in the cellular process of B-cell mediated immunity are predictive for a decreased risk.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for predicting a clinical response to B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapies (BCIDT) using expression levels of genes of the Type I INF pathway. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for evaluating a pharmacological effect of a treatment with B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapy.

Abstract: The invention in one aspect provides a method for classifying cells from a human individual said method comprising: providing a sample comprising cells from said individual that are typically responsive to exposure to a type I interferon; determining a level of activity of a pathway that is modulated by type 1 interferon; and classifying said cells on the basis of the determined level of activity. Cells present in said sample are preferably cultured said cells in the presence of a type I interferon prior to determining a level of activity of said pathway. This is activity is preferably compared to the activity of said pathway in cells in said sample prior to said culture. Preferably the sample is from an individual that is not treated with a type I interferon prior to collecting said sample. Preferably the method is used to determine, prior to initiating treatment with a type I interferon, whether said individual is likely to be a good, a normal or a poor responder to the contemplated treatment.