Abstract: A method for the diagnosis of schizophrenia in an individual comprises: (i) measuring mRNA of either D3 dopamine receptor or ?7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (?7 AChR), and of a control gene in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of the individual and of at least one healthy control individual; (ii) calculating the ratio between the receptor mRNA and the control gene mRNA for each individual; and (iii) evaluating the ratio between the ratios obtained in (ii) for the tested individual and for the at least one healthy control individual, wherein (a) an increase in the D3 dopamine receptor mRNA or a decrease in the ?7 AChR in the tested individual in comparison to healthy individuals, indicates that said tested individual has a higher likelihood of having schizophrenia than the healthy controls.

Abstract: A method for the diagnosis and follow up of a mental disorder or of a neurodegenerative disorder in an individual, comprises: (i) measuring mRNA of D3 dopamine receptor and/or of ?7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (?7 AChR) and of a control gene in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of said individual and of at least one healthy control individual; (ii) calculating the ratio between the D3 dopamine receptor mRNA and the control gene mRNA and/or the ratio between ?7 AChR mRNA and the control gene mRNA for each individual; and (iii) evaluating the ratio between the ratios obtained in (ii) for the tested individual and for the at least one healthy control individual, wherein an increase in the D3 dopamine receptor mRNA and/or a decrease in the ?7 AChR mRNA in the tested individual in comparison to healthy individuals, indicate that said tested individual has a high likelihood of having said mental disorder or neurodegenerative disorder, wherein said increase in the D3 dopamine receptor mRNA and/or decrease in

Abstract: Polypeptides capable of modulating the autoimmune response of an individual to human acetylcholine receptor (hAChR), more particularly polypeptides corresponding entirely or partially to the extracellular domain of hAChR ?-subunit, are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of myasthenia gravis. Preferred polypeptides are polypeptides corresponding to amino acid residues 1-121 or 122-210 of the hAChR ?-subunit sequence, and polypeptides corresponding to amino acid residues 1-121, 1-210 or 1-205 of the hAChR ?-subunit sequence in which is inserted, between amino acid residues 58 and 59, a sequence of 25 amino acid residues encoded by the p3A exon of the hAChR ?-subunit gene, and fragments, analogs, fused, soluble and denatured forms thereof. DNA molecules encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: A method for the diagnosis and follow up of a mental disorder or of a neurodegenerative disorder in an individual, comprises: (i) measuring mRNA of D3 dopamine receptor and/or of ?7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (?7 AChR) and of a control gene in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of said individual and of at least one healthy control individual; (ii) calculating the ratio between the D3 dopamine receptor mRNA and the control gene mRNA and/or the ratio between ?7 AChR mRNA and the control gene mRNA for each individual; and (iii) evaluating the ratio between the ratios obtained in (ii) for the tested individual and for the at least one healthy control individual, wherein an increase in the D3 dopamine receptor mRNA and/or a decrease in the ?7 AChR mRNA in the tested individual in comparison to healthy individuals, indicate that said tested individual has a high likelihood of having said mental disorder or neurodegenerative disorder, wherein said increase in the D3 dopamine receptor mRNA and/or decrease in

Abstract: Polypeptides capable of modulating the autoimmune response of an individual to human acetylcholine receptor (hAChR), more particularly polypeptides corresponding entirely or partially to the extracellular domain of hAChR &agr;-subunit, are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of myasthenia gravis. Preferred polypeptides are polypeptides corresponding to amino acid residues 1-121 or 122-210 of the hAChR &agr;-subunit sequence, and polypeptides corresponding to amino acid residues 1-121, 1-210 or 1-205 of the hAChR &agr;-subunit sequence in which is inserted, between amino acid residues 58 and 59, a sequence of 25 amino acid residues encoded by the p3A exon of the hAChR &agr;-subunit gene, and fragments, analogs, fused, soluble and denatured forms thereof. DNA molecules encoding said polypeptides are also provided.