Abstract: Secreted FXYD family proteins are expressed by intestinal mucosa and/or associated tissues to regulate cell production in intestinal crypts in response to tissue damage. Such tissue damage may arise from disease, exposure to injurious chemicals (e.g., due to poisoning, chemotherapy, chemical weapons), or exposure to injurious radiation (e.g., due to nuclear power accidents, radiological weapons, radiation therapy). Because these proteins are secreted in response to epithelial tissue damage, some of them are implicated in tissue repair response or an inflammatory response which prolongs or exacerbates the tissue damage. Examples of these proteins include FXYD 3, FXYD 4, and FXYD 5. Diagnostic methods based upon the role of the FXYD proteins in epithelial tissue damage are disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided the use of an inhibitor of phosphate transporter activity for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of non-viral damage to an epithelium, or of a condition caused or characterised by such damage. The inhibitor of phosphate transporter activity may optionally be a phosphono-carboxylic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative of such an acid. There are also provided methods of treatment using such inhibitors, acids and derivatives.

Abstract: There is provided the use of an inhibitor of phosphate transporter activity for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of non-viral damage to an epithelium, or of a condition caused or characterised by such damage. The inhibitor of phosphate transporter activity may optionally be a phosphono-carboxylic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative of such an acid. There are also provided methods of treatment using such inhibitors, acids and derivatives.

Abstract: There is provided the use of an inhibitor of phosphate transporter activity for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of non-viral damage to an epithelium, or of a condition caused or characterised by such damage. The inhibitor of phosphate transporter activity may optionally be a phosphono-carboxylic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative of such an acid. There are also provided methods of treatment using such inhibitors, acids and derivatives.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of determining the degree of similarity between gene expression in a biological sample of interest and that in individual reference samples by use of: i) a nucleic acid probe library representative of a pattern of gene expression in the biological sample of interest; and ii) a plurality of reference samples, each of which is a nucleic acid library representative of a pattern of gene expression in a reference biological sample from which it was derived. The method is effected by: a) forming a first set of immobilised, hybridised products by treating the individual reference samples with the probe library under hybridising conditions (one or other of the reference samples or the probe library being in immobilised form) and removing non-immobilised material; and b) forming a second immobilised product by treating a sample of the free probe library with an immobilised sample of the probe library under hybridising conditions, and removing non-immobilised material.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of analysing a biological sample of interest by use of: i) a probe library which comprises cDNA (or a derivative thereof) representative of a pattern of multiple gene expression in the biological sample of interest; and ii) a plurality of individual reference samples (preferably provided as an array on a substrate) each of which is a library comprised of cDNA (or a derivative thereof) representative of a pattern of gene expression in reference biological samples from which the reference samples have been derived. The method is effected by treating individual reference samples with the probe library under hybridising conditions. The relative degree of hybridisation of the probe library to the reference samples is then determined, thereby providing an indication of the degree of similarity between gene expression in the biological sample of interest and gene expression in the individual reference biological samples.

Abstract: The invention provides a collection of labelled target DNA molecules which are exonuclease derivatives of double-stranded DNA. Collections of target DNA according to the invention have greater sensitivity than previously described targets. The collections of target DNA molecules are preferably derived from double-stranded cDNA. The invention further provides methods and kits for producing collections of labelled target DNA. Advantageously the collections may be derived from double-stranded cDNA prepared in the presence of acetate buffers.