Methods of diagnosing and treating fibrosis
The present invention is directed to methods of diagnosing and treating a fibrotic condition in a mammalian subject. These methods involve measuring the levels of trimethylation at lysine residue 27 of histone-3 and/or measuring the expression levels of EZH2 or YY-1. Agents useful for treating fibrosis or a fibrotic condition are also disclosed.
1. A method of treating a subject having a pulmonary fibrotic condition, said method comprising:
administering to the subject an agent that inhibits or reduces trimethylation at lysine residue 27 of histone-3 under conditions effective to treat a pulmonary fibrotic condition in the subject, wherein the agent is an EZH2 inhibitor.
2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: selecting a subject having a pulmonary fibrotic condition before said administering.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said pulmonary fibrotic condition is ideopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a pharmaceutical formulation containing the agent is administered.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises:
a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle; and
an effective amount of the agent.