Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining if a subject having Type II diabetes has a kidney disorder by measuring the level of matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) in the urine of a subject having Type II diabetes and comparing this level to a reference sample or a sample from a healthy subject and determining if the subject has a kidney disorder base on the presence of increased levels of MMP-8 in the urine compared to the reference values or reference sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of determining, assaying or quantifying activity of components of the complement system. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for detecting the presence or level of activity in a sample of mannan-binding-lectin associated serine proteases (MASPs) or complexes of such proteases with lectins and to detection of the particular lectins themselves. Provided is a method for determining the activity of a MASP in a sample, comprising incubating the sample with a pro-urokinase comprising at its activation site the consensus sequence Arg/Leu/Gly-Yyy-Arg/Lys-Ile/Leu/Val-Zzz-Gly-Gly cleavable by a MASP, wherein Yyy can be any amino acid and Zzz is preferably an aliphatic amino acid, and determining proteolytic activation of said pro-urokinase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining whether a urine sample has been obtained from a subject suffering from a kidney disorder involving kidney damage. The method is based on determining the level of a proteolytic enzyme in urine from the subject sample and optionally comparing this level with a reference value. The proteolytic enzyme preferably is a matrix metalloproteases, in particular MMP-2 or MMP-9. The method is particularly suitable for subjects with a condition or disorder that is associated with an increased risk of kidney disorders, such as diabetes. The method may advantageously be applied for early detection of kidney damage, in particular when the subject does not yet show any sign of microalbuminuria. The method may also be applied to a subject undergoing dialysis for determining whether the subject is suffering from remodelling of the peritoneal membrane. Thus, the method is particularly suited for patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a urine sample has been obtained from a subject suffering from a kidney disorder involving kidney damage. The method is based on determining the level of a proteolytic enzyme in urine from the subject. Sample and optionally comparing this level with a reference value. The proteolytic enzyme preferably is a matrix metalloproteases, in particular MMP-2 or MMP-9. The method is particularly suitable for subjects with a condition or disorder that is associated with an increased risk of kidney disorders, such as diabetes. The method may adavnatageously be applied for early detection of kidney damage, in particular when the subject does not yet show any sign of microalbuminuria. The method may also be applied to a subject undergoing dialysis for determining whether the subject is suffering from remodelling of the peritoneal membrane. Thus, the method is particularly suited for patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of determining, assaying or quantifying activity of components of the complement system. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for detecting the presence or level of activity in a sample of mannan-binding-lectin associated serine proteases (MASPs) or complexes of such proteases with lectins and to detection of the particular lectins themselves. Provided is a method for determining the activity of a MASP in a sample, comprising incubating the sample with a pro-urokinase comprising at its activation site the consensus sequence Arg/Leu/Gly-Yyy-Arg/Lys-Ile/Leu/Val-Zzz-Gly-Gly cleavable by a MASP, wherein Yyy can be any amino acid and Zzz is preferably an aliphatic amino acid, and determining proteolytic activation of said pro-urokinase.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved protease assay in which the proteases are detected on basis of their capability to cleave a modified pro-caspase which will yield an activated caspase which can then further be detected. Also part of the invention are the modified pro-caspases and kits comprising said modified pro-caspases.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved protease assay in which the proteases are detected on basis of their capability to cleave a modified pro-caspase which will yield an activated caspase which can then further be detected. Also part of the invention are the modified pro-caspases and kits comprising said modified pro-caspases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining whether a urine sample has been obtained from a subject suffering from a kidney disorder involving kidney damage. The method is based on determining the level of a proteolytic enzyme in urine from the subject sample and optionally comparing this level with a reference value. The proteolytic enzyme preferably is a matrix metalloprotease, in particular MMP-2 or MMP-9. The method is particularly suitable for subjects with a condition or disorder that is associated with an increased risk of kidney disorders, such as diabetes. The method may advantageously be applied for early detection of kidney damage, in particular when the subject does not yet show any sign of microalbuminuria. The method may also be applied to a subject undergoing dialysis for determining whether the subject is suffering from remodelling of the peritoneal membrane. Thus, the method is particularly suited for patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.