Methods for diagnosing renal disorders

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing the presence and progress of pathologies characterized by an accumulation of the extracellular matrix components by measuring the level of Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) in a sample. The method of the present invention is directed to diagnosing kidney fibrosis and associated renal disorders, in particular, complications associated with diabetes, hyperglycemia, and hypertension.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for diagnosing a renal disorder associated with increased glucose in a subject, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of the renal disorder.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the increased glucose is associated with diabetes.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sample is a urine sample.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein detecting the level of CTGF comprises using a CTGF-specific antibody.  
     
     
         5 . The use of the method of  claim 1  to identify a predisposition or susceptibility to a renal disorder in the subject.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the subject is diabetic.  
     
     
         7 . A method for diagnosing a renal disorder in a subject having hyperglycemia, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of the renal disorder.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the hyperglycemia is associated with diabetes.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the sample is a urine sample.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein detecting the level of CTGF comprises using a CTGF-specific antibody.  
     
     
         11 . The use of the method of  claim 7  to identify a predisposition or susceptibility to a renal disorder in the subject.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the subject is diabetic.  
     
     
         13 . A method for identifying a predisposition or susceptibility to a renal disorder in a subject diagnosed with hyperglycemia, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of the renal disorder.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the hyperglycemia is associated with diabetes.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the sample is a urine sample.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein detecting the level of CTGF comprises using a CTGF-specific antibody.  
     
     
         17 . The use of the method of  claim 13  to identify a predisposition or susceptibility to a renal disorder in the subject.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the subject is diabetic.  
     
     
         19 . A method for identifying a predisposition or susceptibility to a renal disorder associated with increased glucose in a subject, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of the renal disorder.    
     
     
         20 . A method for diagnosing a renal disorder associated with glomerular mechanical strain in a subject, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of the renal disorder.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the glomerular mechanical strain is associated with diabetes.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the sample is a urine sample.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein detecting the level of CTGF comprises using a CTGF-specific antibody.  
     
     
         24 . The use of the method of  claim 20  to identify a predisposition or susceptibility to a renal disorder in the subject.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the subject is diabetic.  
     
     
         26 . A method for diagnosing a renal disorder in a subject having hypertension, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of the renal disorder.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the hypertension is associated with diabetes.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the sample is a urine sample.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein detecting the level of CTGF comprises using a CTGF-specific antibody.  
     
     
         30 . The use of the method of  claim 26  to identify a predisposition or susceptibility to a renal disorder in the subject.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the subject is diabetic.  
     
     
         32 . A method for diagnosing a renal disorder in a subject having diabetes, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of the renal disorder.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the sample is a urine sample.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein detecting the level of CTGF comprises using a CTGF-specific antibody.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the renal disorder is diabetic nephropathy.  
     
     
         36 . The use of the method of  claim 32  to identify a predisposition or susceptibility to a renal disorder in the subject.  
     
     
         37 . A method for diagnosing diabetic nephropathy in a subject, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of the renal disorder.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the sample is a urine sample.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein detecting the level of CTGF comprises using a CTGF-specific antibody.  
     
     
         40 . A method for identifying a predisposition or susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy in the subject, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of the renal disorder.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the sample is a urine sample.  
     
     
         42 . A method for diagnosing glomerulosclerosis in a subject, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a urine sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of glomerulosclerosis.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the glomerulosclerosis is associated with diabetes.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein detecting the level of CTGF comprises using a CTGF-specific antibody.  
     
     
         45 . A method for identifying a predisposition or susceptibility to glomerulosclerosis in the subject, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a urine sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of glomerulosclerosis.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the subject is diabetic.  
     
     
         47 . A method for diagnosing glomerulonephritis in a subject, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a urine sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of glomerulonephritis.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the glomerulonephritis is associated with diabetes.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47  wherein detecting the level of CTGF comprises using a CTGF- specific antibody.  
     
     
         50 . A method for identifying a predisposition or susceptibility to glomerulonephritis in the subject, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a urine sample from the subject;    (b) detecting the level of CTGF protein in the sample; and    (c) comparing the level of CTGF protein in the sample to a standard level of CTGF protein, wherein an increased level of CTGF protein is indicative of the presence of glomerulonephritis.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the subject is diabetic.