Methods for detecting deficient cellular membrane tightly bound magnesium for disease diagnoses

Abstract

This invention relates to methods for detecting the deficiency of magnesium tightly bound to cellular membranes, i.e., magnesium binding defect, which deficiency is associated with certain abnormal physiological states, e.g., salt-sensitive essential hypertension or Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

1 . A method for detecting sodium-sensitive, essential hypertension in an individual comprising: 
 a. measuring the level of peptide in a sample of body fluid of said individual, wherein said peptide consists essentially of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1; and    b. comparing said measured level of peptide to a standard, wherein the standard represents the average level of said peptide in normal body fluid,    whereby, a significantly lower level of said peptide in the sample is indicative of said sodium-sensitive, essential hypertension.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the level of said peptide in said sample is measured by using an immunological assay.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said immunological assay utilizes an antibody to said peptide.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said immunological assay is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.  
     
     
         5 . A method for monitoring progress in treatment of sodium-sensitive, essential hypertension in an individual, comprising: 
 a. measuring the level of peptide in a sample of body fluid of said individual, wherein said peptide consists essentially of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1;    b. treating the sodium-sensitive, essential hypertension in the individual;    c. repeating step a; and    d. comparing said level of peptide of step a, to the level of said peptide of step c,    whereby a significant increase in the level of said peptide after treatment is indicative of the progress of treatment of said individual.    
     
     
         6 . A method for detecting sodium-sensitive, essential hypertension in an individual comprising: 
 a. measuring the level of peptide in a sample of body fluid of said individual, wherein said peptide consists essentially of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4; and    b. comparing said measured level of peptide to a standard, wherein the standard represents the average level of said peptide in normal body fluid,    whereby, a significantly lower level of said peptide in the sample is indicative of said sodium-sensitive, essential hypertension.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the level of said peptide in said sample is measured by using an immunological assay.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said immunological assay utilizes an antibody to said peptide.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said immunological assay is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.  
     
     
         10 . A method for monitoring progress in treatment of sodium-sensitive, essential hypertension in an individual, comprising: 
 a. measuring the level of peptide in a sample of body fluid of said individual, wherein said peptide consists essentially of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4;    b. treating the sodium-sensitive, essential hypertension in the individual;    c. repeating step a; and    d. comparing said level of peptide of step a, to the level of said peptide of step c,    whereby a significant increase in the level of said peptide after treatment is indicative of the progress of treatment of said individual.