Means and Methods for Diagnosing and/or Treating a Subject at Risk of Developing Heart Failure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for identifying a subject at risk of developing heart failure, comprising: (a) determining the level of one or more biological markers in a biological sample of the subject; (b) comparing the level of the biological marker to a standard level of the same biological marker; and (c) determining whether the level of the marker is indicative of a risk for developing heart failure, wherein the biological marker is Krüppel-Like Factor 15 (KLF-15) and/or lysosomal integral membrane protein-2 (LIMP-2) and/or fragments and/or variants thereof, and/or wherein the biological marker is a gene coding for KLF 15 and/or LIMP-2, and/or fragments and/or variants thereof. The invention further relates to use of the KLF15 and/or LIMP-2 protein, and/or the gene coding for KLF15 and/or LIMP2, and/or fragments, and/or variants of the genes and/or proteins, for the preparation of a medicament for a prophylactic and/or a therapeutic medicament for prevention and/or treatment of heart failure.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for identifying a subject at risk of developing heart failure, comprising:
 (a) determining a level of one or more biological markers in a biological sample of said subject;   (b) comparing the level of said biological marker to a standard level of the same biological marker; and   (c) determining whether the level of the biological marker is indicative of a risk for developing heart failure, wherein the biological marker is a protein selected from the group consisting of amyloid beta (A4) precursor protein (APP), collagen type 4 alpha 1 (COL4A) and KLF15.   
     
     
         13 . The method claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the method is performed in vitro. 
     
     
         14 . The method claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of blood, plasma, serum, and cardiac tissue. 
     
     
         15 . The method claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of blood, plasma, serum, and cardiac tissue. 
     
     
         16 . The method claimed in  claim 12 , wherein an increased level of APP or an increased level of COL4A or a decreased level of KLF15, as compared to a standard level, is indicative of a risk of developing heart failure.