MARKER SPECIFIC TO AN OXIDATIVE DEGRADATION OF TISSUES CONTAINING TYPE III COLLAGEN, MEANS AND METHODS AND KITS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, MONITORING OR PROGNOSIS OF PATHOLOGIES TARGETED BY THIS MARKER

1 - 25 . (canceled)

26 . Marker specific to an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type III collagen, preferably to nitrosylation of type III collagen, comprising at least one peptide sequence SP* of 5 to 25 amino acids (AAs), preferably of 5 to 20 AAs, and, still more preferentially, of 4 to 15 AAs, including the sub-sequence QYDSYD [SEQ ID No. I] in which at least one of the Ys is nitrosylated* and where Q corresponds not only to glutamine in accordance with the international code but also to pyroglutamic acid.

27 . Marker of claim 26 , wherein the tissues referred to include synovial tissue.

28 . Marker of claim 26 , wherein the peptide sequence SP* is chosen:

→from the following group of sequences:

QY*DSY*DVKSG;

[SEQ ID No. 2]

QY*DSYDVKSG;

[SEQ ID No. 3]

QYDSY*DVKSG;

[SEQ ID No. 4]

the homologous sequences having a degree of homology with SEQ ID No. 2 to 4 greater than or equal to 95%, preferably 98%, and still more preferentially 99%; sequences in which Y* corresponds to a nitrosylated Y.

→and preferably, from the following group of sequences:

QY*DSY*DVKS;

[SEQ ID No. 5]

QY*DSYDVKS;

[SEQ ID No. 6]

QYDSY*DVKS;

[SEQ ID No. 7]

the homologous sequences having a degree of homology with SEQ ID No. 5 to 7 greater than or equal to 95%, preferably 98%, and still more preferentially 99%; sequences in which Y* corresponds to a nitrosylated Y.

29 . Marker of claim 26 , comprising the non-nitrosylated peptide sequence SP, preferably the following peptide sequence: QYDSYDVKSG [SEQ ID No. 8].

30 . Marker of claim 29 , wherein the peptide sequence SP* or SP (contained in a protein P) is linked by at least one bridge to at least one other peptide sequence SP* or SP (contained in the same molecule of protein P) or to another peptide sequence SP′ (contained in another molecule of protein P), said bridge preferably linking a lysine residue of one sequence to a lysine residue of the other sequence, and, still more preferentially, said bridge comprising a direct covalent bond or at least one pyrodinoline residue or one of its derivatives.

31 . Marker of claim 30 , wherein the peptide sequence SP* or SP (contained in a protein P) is linked by at least one bridge to at least one other peptide sequence SP x (contained in a protein P x which is different from P), said bridge preferably linking a lysine residue of one sequence to a lysine residue of the other sequence, and, still more preferentially, said bridge comprising a direct covalent bond or at least one pyrodinoline residue or one of its derivatives.

32 . Marker of claim 30 , wherein the protein P is type III collagen, SP* or SP being preferably contained in an (advantageously aminoterminal) telopeptide.

33 . Marker of claim 31 , wherein the protein P x is collagen of a type different from type III, preferably a type I collagen.

34 . Peptide sequence isolated from the human body or otherwise produced by a technical process, comprising 5 to 25 amino acids (AAs), preferably 5 to 20 AAs, and, still more preferentially, 4 to 15 AAs, including the sub-sequence QYDSYD [SEQ ID No. I] in which at least one of the Ys is nitrosylated* and where Q corresponds not only to glutamine in accordance with the international code but also to pyroglutamic acid.

35 . Peptide sequence of claim 34 , chosen from the following group of sequences:

SP* as defined in claim 26 ,

SP as defined in claim 29 ,

SP x as defined in claim 33 ,

the homologous sequences having a degree of homology with the SEQ SP, SP*, SP x greater than or equal to 95%, preferably 98%, and, still more preferentially 99%; in which Y* corresponds to a nitrosylated Y.

36 . Nucleic sequence encoding the marker of claim 26 .

37 . Use of at least one peptide sequence of claim 34 , for a technical application chosen from the group comprising:

the diagnosis of a pathology which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type III collagen;

the monitoring of a pathology which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type III collagen;

the determination of the effectiveness of a medicament suitable for the treatment of a pathology which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type III collagen;

or the determination of the toxicity of a medicament suitable for the treatment of a pathology which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type III collagen;

38 . Use of claim 37 , wherein the pathology which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type Ill collagen, is a synovial pathology or another osteoarticular pathology.

39 . Method for the diagnosis, monitoring or prognosis of a pathology which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type Ill collagen, comprising the following essential stages:

a. quantitative and/or qualitative in vitro analysis of a biological sample from an individual, in order to detect a marker specific to an oxidative degradation of the synovial tissue of claim 26 ;

b. comparison of the concentration of marker optionally detected in the sample with a reference concentration corresponding to the existence (at a determined stage) or to the absence in an individual, of the pathology considered.

40 . Method for determining the effectiveness or toxicity of a medicament suitable for the treatment of a pathology which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type Ill collagen, characterized in that it comprises the following essential stages:

a. quantitative and/or qualitative in vitro analysis of a biological sample from an individual, in order to detect a marker specific to an oxidative degradation of the synovial tissue of claim 26 ;

b. comparison of the concentration of marker optionally detected in the sample with a reference concentration corresponding to the existence (at a determined stage) or to the absence in the individual, of the pathology considered.

41 . Method of claim 39 , wherein the pathology which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type Ill collagen is a synovial pathology or another osteoarticular pathology.

42 . Method of claim 40 , wherein the pathology which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type Ill collagen is a synovial pathology or another osteoarticular pathology.

43 . Means for the diagnosis, monitoring or prognosis of a pathology, or determining the effectiveness or toxicity of a medicament suitable for the treatment of a pathology which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type III collagen, comprising at least one element for detection of the marker of claim 26 .

44 . Means of claim 43 , wherein the detection element comprises at least one (purified) antibody capable of recognizing the epitope included in the peptide sequence SP* of the marker of claim 26 and of specifically binding to the protein carrying said marker or said sequence.

45 . Means of claims 43 , wherein the pathology which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type Ill collagen is a synovial pathology or another osteoarticular pathology.

46 . Purified antibody capable of recognizing the epitope included in the peptide sequence SP* of the marker of claim 26 and of specifically binding to the protein carrying said marker.

47 . Purified antibody capable of recognizing the epitope included in the peptide sequence SP* of the sequence of claim 34 .

48 . Kit for the diagnosis, monitoring or prognosis of a pathology or determining the effectiveness or toxicity of a medicament suitable for the treatment of a pathology, which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type Ill collagen, comprising at least one means of claim 42 .

49 . Kit according to claim 48 , wherein the pathology which is accompanied by an oxidative degradation of tissues containing type Ill collagen is a synovial pathology or another osteoarticular pathology.

50 . Nucleic sequence encoding the sequence of claim 34 .