Anti-CRHBP monoclonal antibody

To find novel genes abundantly and preferentially expressed in human glomerulus, we constructed a glomerular cDNA library and verified the reliability of our database by comparison with the Stanford Microarray Database (SMD), followed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH). RNA was extracted from normal human glomeruli, and the cDNA library was constructed by plasmid cloning. Out of 5 x 10(3) clones from the library, 91 UniGene clusters of more than three clones were identified as 'glomerular-abundant genes'. All these genes were referred to the SMD, and 18 genes were defined as 'glomerular preferential genes'. Four unknown genes - IFI27, CRHBP, FLJ10154 and SEMA5B - were selected for RT-PCR to compare expression in the glomerulus with that in the cortex and medulla, and for ISH to examine glomerular localization. Also, three unknown genes that were glomerular abundant but not listed in the SMD - DDX5, HSPC138, and MGC10940 - were selected for RT-PCR and ISH. Finally, a kidney biopsy specimen of crescentic glomerulonephritis was used for ISH to examine glomerular expression for CRHBP mRNA. Among the selected seven glomerular-abundant genes, six were confirmed as 'glomerular preferential genes' by RT-PCR. By ISH, all these genes were demonstrated in podocytes. The expression of CRHBP mRNA in a single living podocyte was not changed between normal and crescentic glomerulus. Glomerular preferential expression and podocyte localization of these novel genes have been demonstrated for the first time. Because some of these genes were not listed in SMD, our database can be a useful tool to find novel human glomerular genes.

Context: The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF, or corticotropin-releasing hormone) and arginine vasopressin systems have been implicated in the pathophysiology of anxiety and depressive disorders and response to antidepressant treatment. Objective: To study the association of genetic variants in 10 genes that regulate the CRF and arginine vasopressin systems with treatment response to citalopram in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) sample (N=1768). Design: Pharmacogenetic association study derived from the STAR*D study, a multicenter, prospective, open, 12-week effectiveness trial. Setting: Out patient primary care and psychiatric clinics. Patients: Individuals with nonpsychotic major depressive disorder for whom DNA was available who were subsequently treated with citalopram hydrobromide for 4 to 12 weeks. Intervention: Flexible doses of citalopram. Main Outcome Measure: Association of genetic polymorphisms in genes encoding the CRF system with response and remission to citalopram treatment at exit visit. Results: One single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs10473984) within the CRHBP locus showed a significant association with both remission (P=6.0 x 10(-6); corrected, P=.0026) and reduction in depressive symptoms (P=7.0 x 10(-7); corrected, P=.00031) in response to citalopram. The T allele of this SNP was associated with poorer treatment outcome in 2 of the 3 ethnic subsamples (African American and Hispanic), despite large differences in minor allele frequency. This association was more pronounced in patients with features of anxious depression (P=.008). The nonresponse allele was shown to be associated with overall higher plasma corticotropin levels and more pronounced dexamethasone suppression of corticotropin. Conclusions: These data indicate that a genetic variant within the CRHBP locus affects response to citalopram in African American and Hispanic patients, suggesting a role for this gene and for the CRF system in antidepressant treatment response.