Abstract: The present invention comprises a method to identify granulocytic cell genes that are differentially expressed upon exposure to a pathogen or in a sterile inflammatory disease by preparing a gene expression profile of a granulocytic cell population exposed to a pathogen or isolated from a subject having a sterile inflammatory disease and comparing that profile to a profile prepared from quiescent granulocytic cells. The present invention is particularly useful for identifying cytokine genes, genes encoding cell surface receptors and genes encoding intermediary signaling molecules. The invention also includes methods to identify a therapeutic agent that modulates the expression of at least one gene in a granulocyte population. Genes which are differentially expressed during neutrophil contact with a pathogen, such as a virulent bacteria, or that are differentially expressed in a subject having a sterile inflammatory disease are of particular importance.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods of identifying an agent that modulates sterile inflammatory disease by preparing a gene expression profile of a granulocytic cell population isolated from a subject having a sterile inflammatory disease; treating it with an agent; and comparing that profile to a profile prepared from untreated granulocytic cells isolated from a subject known to have sterile inflammatory disease. The invention also includes methods to identify such agents by treating an isolated polymorphonuclear white blood cell population from a patient with a sterile inflammatory disease with an agent and comparing it to a gene expression profile of an untreated polymorponuclear white blood cell population isolated from a patient with a sterile inflammatory disease. Agents that modulate glomerulonephritis are of particular importance.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method to identify granulocytic cell genes that are differentially expressed upon exposure to a pathogen or in a sterile inflammatory disease by preparing a gene expression profile of a granulocytic cell population exposed to a pathogen or isolated from a subject having a sterile inflammatory disease and comparing that profile to a profile prepared from quiescent granulocytic cells. The present invention is particularly useful for identifying cytokine genes, genes encoding cell surface receptors and genes encoding intermediary signaling molecules. The invention also includes methods to identify a therapeutic agent that modulates the expression of at least one gene in a granulocytic population. Genes which are differentially expressed during neutrophil contact with a pathogen, such as a virulent bacteria, or that are differentially expressed in a subject having a sterile inflammatory disease are of particular importance.