This document provides methods and materials involved in assessing mammals (e.g., humans) for arthritis. For example, methods and materials for assessing a mammal's gut microbial diversity to identify the mammal as having arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) are provided. This document also provides methods and materials involved in treating arthritis.

The invention relates to method of diagnosis a subject suffering from Adult-onset Still's disease and further to determine the disease course of the subject suffering from Adult-onset Still's disease.

The present disclosure relates to the use of PAD proteins, such as PAD1, or PAD1 and PAD4, or antigenic fragments thereof as clinical biomarker for diagnostic and prognostic information in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The disclosure further provides methods and compositions for the detection of autoantibodies against PAD proteins, such as anti-PAD1, or anti-PAD1 and anti-PAD4, in a biological sample.

Provided herein are biomarkers and methods for generating scores useful for assessing psoriatic arthritis (PsA) disease activity in subjects previously diagnosed with PsA. The invention also provides predictive model methods based on the biomarkers, as well as computer systems, software embodiments of the models for scoring and optionally classifying samples, and methods of recommending optimal therapeutic regimens.

The invention relates to a method for detecting and measuring the presence of mono-nucleosomes and oligo-nucleosomes and nucleosomes that contain particular histone variants and the use of such measurements for the detection and diagnosis of disease. The invention also relates to a method of identifying histone variant biomarkers for the detection and diagnosis of disease and to biomarkers identified by said method.

The present inventors identified a subpopulation of genes induced by type I and type II IFNs in a human submandibular gland (HSG) epithelial cell line. Unexpectedly, it was found that the majority of genes that are highly up-regulated by IFN-α are also highly induced by IFN-γ. In contrast, there was a substantial group of genes that are highly induced by IFN-γ only. In target tissues, this identified subpopulation of genes and probes allow different IFN patterns to be discerned, enabling more precise molecular classification of patient subpopulations. The identified gene probes are useful for selecting and monitoring therapy, and for defining efficacy of novel agents in the autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

A recombination expression vector can be used for screening cartilage disease treatment agents. A cell line is transformed using the expression vector. A method using the foregoing screen drugs that are effective in treating cartilage diseases, and since all constituent factors are composed of human-derived genetic factors, new drugs selected through this system are considered to be more effective in treating human cartilage diseases. Furthermore, using additional transformation, it can be evaluated whether genes having unknown functions can be used to treat cartilage diseases. This establishes the ability to not only compare the cartilage disease treatment functions of various drugs, but also to evaluate the optimal treatment concentration and indirect cytotoxicity. Moreover, 2-anthraquinonecarboxylic acid, which is a novel substance having cartilage regeneration efficacy discovered through the screening system, is utilizable in the treatment of various cartilage disease.

A method can be used for detecting, in a sample, an autoantibody binding to a polypeptide having the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 11 or SEQ ID NO: 24. A carrier containing said polypeptide and an autoantibody binding to said polypeptide are useful. The autoantibody may be used for the diagnosis of a disease, and a method can be used for isolating an autoantibody binding to said polypeptide. The polypeptide and a kit containing said polypeptide are useful, and can be used for the manufacture of a kit or medical device. A method involves contacting a medical or diagnostic device containing said polypeptide with a buffered solution containing an antibody binding specifically to said polypeptide. A sample containing said autoantibody as a positive control and a diluted sample containing said autoantibody are useful.

Methods for evaluating the risk of radiographic progression in a subject with RA are provided. Also provided are methods of determining treatment efficacy for a subject with RA. Methods of selecting a treatment regimen for a subject with RA are also provided.

The present disclosure is directed to methods and kits for using serum biomarkers, including C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 10 (CXCL10), C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 13 (CXCL13), and/or soluble CD27 (sCD27), in predicting and evaluating therapeutic response to Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) inhibitor therapy in a patient in need thereof.