What is claimed is:
1. A method for measuring the expression level of serine palmitoyltransferase by mammalian cells comprising:
(a) contacting a serine palmitoyltransferase specific compound with a mammalian cell to form a plurality of compound-serine palmitoyltransferase complexes; and,
(b) measuring the level of serine palmitoyltransferase expressed by the cell by detecting the presence of the complexes.
2. A method for measuring the expression of serine palmitoyltransferase by mammalian cells comprising:
(a) contacting a serine palmitoyltransferase specific compound with a first mammalian cell which basally expresses serine palmitoyltransferase to form a first plurality of compound-serine palmitoyltransferase complexes;
(b) contacting a serine palmitoyltransferase specific compound with a second mammalian cell which hyperproliferatively expresses serine palmitoyltransferase to form a second plurality of compound-serine palmitoyltransferase complexes;
(c) determining the levels of serine palmitoyltransferase expressed by the first and second cells by detecting the presence of the first and second plurality of complexes; and
(d) measuring the difference in the levels of serine palmitoyltransferase expressed by the first and second cells.
3. A method for in vivo imaging of a tissue comprising:
(a) administering to a mammal a serine palmitoyltransferase specific compound, wherein the compound comprises a detectable label, and wherein the compound binds to mammalian cells which hyperproliferatively express serine palmitoyltransferase; and,
(b) determining the location of the cells within a tissue of the mammal by imaging the detectable label.
4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of using the measured difference in the levels of serine palmitoyltransferase expressed by the first and second cells to detect, diagnose, diagnose the metastatic potential of, monitor the prognosis and progression of, or monitor the therapeutic efficacy of a treatment of a cancer.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of breast carcinoma, colonic carcinoma, carcinoid, gastric carcinoma, glioma, hepatoma, leiomyosarcoma, liver carcinoma, lung carcinoma, lymphoma, melanoma, mesothelioma, myeloma, ovarian carcinoma, pancreas carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, sarcoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, and leukemia.
6. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of using the measured difference in levels of serine palmitoyltransferase expressed by the first and second cells to detect or diagnose the occurrence of vascular injury.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the vascular injury is restenosis.
8. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of using the measured difference in levels of serine palmitoyltransferase expressed by the first and second cells to detect or diagnose the occurrence of inflammation.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the inflammation is the result of ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, stroke, or asthma.
10. A method for screening a therapeutically effective compound that inhibits serine palmitoyltransferase comprising:
(a) contacting a serine palmitoyltransferase specific compound with a first mammalian cell which hyperproliferatively expresses serine palmitoyltransferase to form a first plurality of compound-serine palmitoyltransferase complexes;
(b) contacting a potential serine palmitoyltransferase inhibitor compound with a second mammalian cell which hyperproliferatively expresses serine palmitoyltransferase to form a second plurality of compound-serine palmitoyltransferase complexes;
(c) determining the levels of serine palmitoyltransferase expressed by the first and second cells by detecting the presence of the first and second plurality of compound-serine palmitoyltransferase complexes; and,
(d) measuring the difference in the levels of serine palmitoyltransferase expressed by the first and second cells to determine whether the potential inhibitor compound inhibits serine palmitoyltransferase expression.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the serine palmitoyltransferase specific compound is selected from the group consisting of a compound that binds to serine palmitoyltransferase, a monospecific antibody that binds to serine palmitoyltransferase, and a nucleic acid that will hybridize with serine palmitoyltransferase mRNA.
12. The method of claim 2, wherein the serine palmitoyltransferase specific compound is selected from the group consisting of a compound that binds to serine palmitoyltransferase, a monospecific antibody that binds to serine palmitoyltransferase, and a nucleic acid that will hybridize with serine palmitoyltransferase mRNA.
13. The method of claim 3, wherein the serine palmitoyltransferase specific compound is selected from the group consisting of a compound that binds to serine palmitoyltransferase, a monospecific antibody that binds to serine palmitoyltransferase, and a nucleic acid that will hybridize with serine palmitoyltransferase mRNA.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the serine palmitoyltransferase specific compound is selected from the group consisting of a compound that binds to serine palmitoyltransferase, a monospecific antibody that binds to serine palmitoyltransferase, and a nucleic acid that will hybridize with serine palmitoyltransferase mRNA.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the mammalian cells which express serine palmitoyltransferase are selected from the group consisting of adrenal cells, brain cells, breast cells, colon cells, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, heart cells, immunological cells, kidney cells, liver cells, lung cells, ovary cells, pancreas cells, prostate cells, skin cells, spleen cells, stomach cells, testis cells, thyroid cells, uterus cells and vascular cells.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the epithelial cells are selected from the group consisting of endothelial cells, non-glial neuronal cells, colon cells, breast cells, the proximal tubules of the kidney, smooth muscle of the prostate, smooth muscle of the uterus and smooth muscle of the testis.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the immunological cells are selected from the group consisting of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, monocytes, macrophages, epitheloid cells, giant cells, microglia, Kupffer cells and alveolar macrophages.
18. The method of claim 2 wherein the mammalian cells which basally express serine palmitoyltransferase are selected from the group consisting of adrenal cells, brain cells, breast cells, colon cells, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, heart cells, immunological cells, kidney cells, liver cells, lung cells, ovary cells, pancreas cells, prostate cells, skin cells, spleen cells, stomach cells, testis cells, thyroid cells, uterus cells, and vascular cells.
19. The method of claim 2 wherein the mammalian cells which hyperproliferatively express serine palmitoyltransferase are selected from the group consisting of epithelial cells, endothelial cells, cancer cells, immunological cells, and cells within a tumor microenvironment.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the cancer cells are selected from the group consisting of breast carcinoma, colonic carcinoma, carcinoid, gastric carcinoma, glioma, hepatoma, leiomyosarcoma, liver carcinoma, lung carcinoma, lymphoma, melanoma, mesothelioma, myeloma, ovarian carcinoma, pancreas carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, sarcoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, and leukemia.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the epithelial cells are selected from the group consisting of endothelial cells, non-glial neuronal cells, colon cells, breast cells, the proximal tubules of the kidney, smooth muscle of the prostate, smooth muscle of the uterus and smooth muscle of the testis.
22. The method of claim 19 wherein the immunological cells are selected from the group consisting of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, monocytes, macrophages, epitheloid cells, giant cells, microglia, Kupffer cells and alveolar macrophages.
23. The method of claim 19 wherein the cells within a tumor microenvironment are selected from the group consisting of stromal fibroblasts, stromal monocytes and myofibroblasts.
24. A method for treating a serine palmitoyltransferase mediated disorder in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical formulation of a serine palmitoyltransferase inhibitor compound to the subject; wherein, optionally, the serine palmitoyltransferase inhibitor compound is cytotoxic.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the serine palmitoyltransferase inhibitor compound is a serine palmitoyltransferase specific compound.
26. The method of claim 24, wherein the serine palmitoyltransferase mediated disorder is selected from the group consisting of cancer, inflammation, and vascular injury.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of breast carcinoma, colonic carcinoma, carcinoid, gastric carcinoma, glioma, hepatoma, leiomyosarcoma, liver carcinoma, lung carcinoma, lymphoma, melanoma, mesothelioma, myeloma, ovarian carcinoma, pancreas carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, sarcoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, and leukemia.
28. The method of claim 26 wherein the inflammation is the result of ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, stroke, or asthma.
29. The method of claim 26 wherein the vascular injury is the result of restenosis.
30. The method of claim 25 wherein the serine palmitoyltransferase specific compound is selected from the group consisting of a monospecific antibody optionally labeled with a cytotoxic agent, and a nucleic acid that will optionally hybridize to serine palmitoyltransferase mRNA.
31. The method of claim 24 wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is coated onto a balloon catheter or stent and released in a time-dependent manner.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus that controls a liquid level down-hole of a hydrocarbon producing well by monitoring the liquid level down-hole in the well comprising:
(a) a down-hole liquid level measurer that is integral to and part of a down-hole tubing in the well;
(b) a signal device connected to the liquid level measurer that causes a pump to adjust the pump’s current liquid output based on the liquid level down-hole as measured by the down-hole liquid level measurer;
wherein the down-hole liquid level measurer has a float within a caged support structure, the caged support structure is a unitary structure that both guides the float and protects the float from touching a casing within the well and acts as a section of the down-hole tubing; and
wherein the float is contained within the caged support structure so that the float can travel vertically up and down and horizontally within the caged support structure.
2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the signal device is a signal device that is not subject to fouling by metal filings.
3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the float freely floats within the caged support structure.
4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the signal device is a signal device that is not subject to fouling by metal filings.
5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the signal device is a signal device that is not subject to fouling by metal filings.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the caged support structure allows for wire passage from a pump to a surface within internal support structure of the caged support structure so that the wire is not exposed to the well.
7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the signal device is a signal device that is not subject to fouling by metal filings.
8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the signal device comprises:
(a) a top target connected to the float;
(b) a bottom target connected to the float;
(c) an upper sensing device connected to an upper support structure so that when the liquid level down-hole causes the float to rise vertically, the top target engages the upper sensing device thereby initiating an increase in the amount of liquid removed from the well; and
(d) a lower sensing device connected to a lower support structure so that when the liquid level down-hole causes the float to descend vertically, the lower target engages the lower sensing device thereby initiating a decrease in the amount of liquid removed from the well.
9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the support structure is a guide that allows the float to move with a surface of the liquid level within the guide.
10. An apparatus that controls a liquid level down-hole of a hydrocarbon producing well by monitoring the liquid level down-hole in the well comprising:
(a) a down-hole liquid level measurer that is integral to and part of a down-hole tubing in the well having:
(i) a float within a caged support structure, the caged support structure is a unitary structure that both guides the float and protects the float from touching a casing within the well and acts as a section of the down hole tubing, the float being contained within the caged support structure without a connecting rod so that the float can travel vertically up and down, horizontally, and tilt on the float’s axis;
(b) a signal device that is not subject to being fouled by metal filings connected to the liquid level measurer that causes a pump to adjust the pump’s current liquid output based on the liquid level down-hole as measured by the down-hole liquid level measurer.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the caged support structure allows for wire passage from a pump to a surface within internal support structure of the caged support structure so that the wire is not exposed to the well.
12. A method of producing natural gas from a well comprising:
(a) providing a well that produces natural gas and a liquid;
(b) providing a pump for removing the liquid from the well;
(c) monitoring a liquid level down-hole in the well by providing:
(i) a down-hole liquid level measurer that is integral to and part of a down-hole tubing in the well;
(d) adjusting the pump to alter the output of liquid from the well and thereby controlling the liquid level down-hole based on the physical monitoring of the liquid level down-hole in the well;
(e) producing natural gas from the well;
wherein the down-hole liquid level measurer has a float within a caged support structure, the caged support structure is a unitary structure that both guides the float and protects the float from touching a casing within the well and acts as a section of the down-hole tubing; and
wherein the float is contained within the caged support structure so that the float can travel vertically and horizontally within the caged support structure.
13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the float freely floats within the caged support structure.
14. A method as recited in claim 12 including adjusting the pump by a signal device that is not subject to being fouled by metal filings connected to the liquid level measurer.
15. A method for removing oil from a well comprising:
(a) providing a well that produces oil;
(b) providing a pump for removing the oil from the well;
(c) monitoring a liquid level down-hole in the well by providing:
(i) a down-hole liquid level measurer that is integral to and part of a down-hole tubing in the well;
(d) adjusting the pump to alter the output of oil from the well and thereby controlling the oil level down-hole based on the physical monitoring of the oil level down-hole in the well;
(e) producing the oil from the well;
wherein the down-hole liquid level measurer has a float within a caged support structure, the caged support structure is a unitary structure that both guides the float and protects it from touching a casing within the well and acts as a section of the down-hole tubing; and
wherein the float is contained within the caged support structure so that the float can travel vertically and horizontally within the caged support structure.
16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the float freely floats within the caged support structure.
17. A method as recited in claim 15 including adjusting the pump by a signal device that is not subject to being fouled by metal filings connected to the liquid level measurer.
18. An apparatus that controls a liquid level down-hole of a hydrocarbon producing well by monitoring the liquid level down-hole in the well comprising:
(a) a down-hole liquid level measurer that is connected to a down-hole tubing in the well that is used by the pump having:
(i) a float slideably supported and connected to the down hole tubing so that the float can move vertically up and down on the down-hole tubing and wherein the connection to the tubing has space so that the float is capable of horizontal movement; and
(b) a signal device that is not subject to being fouled by metal filings connected to the liquid level measurer that causes a pump to adjust the pump’s current liquid output based on the liquid level down-hole as measured by the down-hole liquid level measurer.