Patent ID: 8420310

Claim:
A method for detecting idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, which comprises: a) obtaining a biological sample from a subject suspected of having idiopathic interstitial pneumonia; and b) measuring the expression level of a periostin gene or the amount of a periostin protein in a biological sample obtained from the subject suspected of having idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, wherein the periostin gene is selected from the group consisting of polynucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 and 5, and wherein the periostin protein is selected from the group consisting of amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4 and 6, and wherein an elevated expression level of the periostin gene or an elevated amount of the periostin protein is indicative of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, wherein the subject is suspected of having idiopathic interstitial pneumonia by having tested positive for idiopathic interstitial pneumonia with at least one selected from the group consisting of the results of physical findings, serological examination results, respiratory function test results, the results of chest X-ray image findings, and the results of chest HRCT image findings.