Use of sfrp-3 in the assessment of heart failure

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for assessing heart failure in vitro including the steps of measuring in a sample the concentration of the marker SFRP-3, of optionally measuring in the sample the concentration of one or more other marker(s) of heart failure, and of assessing heart failure by comparing the concentration determined in for SFRP-3 and the concentration(s) determined for the optionally one or more other marker to the concentration of this marker or these markers as established in a reference population. Also disclosed are the use of SFRP-3 as a marker protein in the assessment of heart failure, a marker combination comprising SFRP-3 and a kit for measuring SFRP-3.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of diagnosing heart failure in an individual at risk for heart failure, the method comprising the steps of:
 contacting, in vitro, a portion of a sample obtained from the individual with an antibody having specific binding affinity for secreted frizzled related protein 3 (SFRP-3), thereby forming a complex of the antibody and the SFRP-3, the antibody having a detectable label, the sample being one of serum, plasma or whole blood;   separating the complex formed in said step of contacting from antibody not comprising the complex of the antibody and the SFRP-3;   quantifying a signal from the detectable label of the antibody comprising the complex of the antibody and the SFRP-3 formed in said step of contacting, the signal being proportional to an amount of SFRP-3 in the sample from the individual, whereby a concentration of SFRP-3 in the sample is calculated;   comparing the concentration of SFRP-3 calculated in said step of quantifying to a SFRP-3 reference value; and   diagnosing heart failure in the individual if the concentration of SFRP-3 calculated in said step of quantifying is greater than the SFRP-3 reference value.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said step of quantifying a signal comprises the use of a computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the individual at risk for heart failure is classified in stage B according to the ACC/AHA guidelines. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the individual at risk for heart failure has been diagnosed as having at least one of obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and hypertension. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the detectable label comprises one of a peroxidase conjugate and digoxigenin. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the SFRP-3 reference value is set at a specificity of at least 90%. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the SFRP-3 reference value is derived from a control population of samples known to not suffer from heart failure. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 2  further comprising coupling the complex to a solid support prior to said step of separating. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the solid support is a microwell 
     
     
         11 . A method for diagnosing heart failure in an individual at risk for heart failure, the method comprising the steps of:
 contacting a portion of a serum, blood or plasma sample obtained from the individual with a capture antibody having specific binding affinity for secreted frizzled related protein 3 (SFRP-3), thereby forming a complex of the capture antibody and SFRP-3, the capture antibody being one of coupled to a solid support or comprising a component configured for coupling the capture antibody to a solid support;   contacting the portion of the sample with a detection antibody having specific binding affinity for SFRP-3, thereby forming a complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3, and the detection antibody, the detection antibody having a detectable label;   contacting the complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3 and the detection antibody with a solid support, whereby the complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3 and the detection antibody couples to the solid support;   separating the complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3 and the detection antibody coupled to the solid support from detection antibody, capture antibody and SFRP-3 not coupled to the solid support;   exposing the complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3 and the detection antibody to a substrate, thereby producing a signal from the detectable label of the detection antibody comprising the complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3 and the detection antibody which couples to the solid support in said step of contacting;   quantifying the signal produced in said step of exposing the complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3 and the detection antibody, the signal being proportional to an amount of SFRP-3 in the sample from the individual, whereby a concentration of SFRP-3 in the sample is calculated;   comparing the concentration of SFRP-3 calculated in said step of quantifying to a SFRP-3 reference value; and   providing a diagnosis of heart failure in the individual if the concentration of SFRP-3 in the sample calculated in said step of quantifying is greater than the SFRP-3 reference concentration.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said step of quantifying the signal comprises the use of a computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the individual at risk for heart failure is classified in stage B according to the ACC/AHA guidelines. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the individual at risk for heart failure has been diagnosed as having at least one of obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and hypertension. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the detectable label comprises one of a peroxidase conjugate and digoxigenin. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the SFRP-3 reference value is set at a specificity of at least 90%. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the SFRP-3 reference value is derived from a control population of samples known to not suffer from heart failure. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the second epitope is different than the first epitope. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said step of contacting the portion of the sample with the capture antibody and said step of contacting the portion of the sample with the detection antibody occur at substantially the same time. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the solid support is a microwell.