Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by chronic airflow limitation, is a serious and growing public health concern. The major environmental risk factor for COPD is cigarette smoking, but the biological mechanisms underlying COPD are not well understood. Herein, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (.sup.1H-NMR) spectroscopy is used in methods to identify metabolites and biomarkers associated with lung function in COPD.

The present invention relates to a method for identifying agents capable of inducing respiratory sensitization in a mammal and arrays and diagnostic kits for use in such methods. In particular, the methods include measurement of the expression of the biomarkers listed in Table A(i), Table A(ii) and/or Table A(iii) in cells exposed to a test agent.

The present invention relates to the field of fibrosis and inflammation and more particularly to the use of ADAM12 (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase 12) inhibitors to prevent or treat inflammation-induced fibrosis. The present invention also relates to the use of ADAM12 as a marker for inflammation-induced fibrosis and to the ablation of ADAM12 expressing cells as therapeutic approach to interfere with the development of pro-fibrotic cells.

Hypoxia induced mitogenic factor (HIMF) is a member of the “found in inflammatory zone” (FIZZ)/resistin family of proteins and has potent mitogenic, angiogenic, and vasoconstrictive effects in the lung vasculature. The receptor/binding partners for this family of proteins have been largely unknown. We identified Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) as a functional HIMF binding partner through GST-HIMF pull-downs and mass spectrometry. Using primary cultured HIMF-stimulated murine bone marrow cells, we demonstrated that BTK was recruited to the leading edge of the cells. We also demonstrated that BTK and the closely related tyrosine kinase Fyn, colocalized at the growth cone process in these cells. HIMF stimulation induced BTK autophosphorylation, which peaked at 2.5 minutes. A transwell migration assay showed that treatment with recombinant murine HIMF induced migration of primary cultured bone marrow cells, which was completely blocked by the BTK inhibitor, LFM-A13. In vivo studies, using the rat hindlimb ischemia model, revealed that HIMF can stimulate angiogenesis in the hypoxic tissue probably through inducing the migration of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to areas of active angiogenesis. Our results indicate that HIMF may acts as a chemotactic molecule in stimulating the migration of leukocytes/EPCs from bone marrow to targeted tissues through activation of the BTK pathway.

The present disclosure provides methods for diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). The present disclosure provides methods for differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis from other ILDs. Compositions and kits useful in carrying out a subject method are also provided.

Disclosed is an isolated binding protein including a cardiac troponin I (cTnI) antigen binding domain, and preparation and a use and the like of the binding protein. The antigen binding domain includes at least one complementarity determining region selected from an amino acid sequence defined in this article, or has at least 80% sequence identity with the complementarity determining region of the amino acid sequence and has KD≤9.96×10.sup.−8 mon affinity with cTnI. The binding protein may be used in the detection field of the cTnI protein.

Disclosed is an isolated binding protein including a cardiac troponin I (cTnI) antigen binding domain, and preparation and a use and the like of the binding protein. The antigen binding domain includes at least one complementarity determining region selected from an amino acid sequence defined in this article, or has at least 80% sequence identity with the complementarity determining region of the amino acid sequence and has KD≤7.51×10.sup.−8 mol/L affinity with cTnI. The binding protein may be used in the detection field of the cTnI.

Excessive deposition of extracellular matrix is a hallmark of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), it is advantageous to target the cells and the mechanisms associated with this process. By targeting myofibroblasts (specialized contractile fibroblasts) that are key for the development of IPF with drugs conjugated with fibroblast activation protein (FAP), this technology helps minimize the production of extracellular matrix in the lungs and provides a new treatment option for patients diagnosed with IPF.

Disclosed are methods and devices for analyzing aerosol particles in exhaled breath using diagnostic tools that enable rapid, low cost and autonomous point of care assays for several diseases including respiratory tract diseases. Disclosed are methods and devices for capturing exhaled breath aerosols in a packed bed column and analyzing exhaled captured breath aerosols for tuberculosis diagnosis.

The invention relates to a novel diagnostic marker CT-proADM (C-terminal fragment of preproADM, SEQ ID No. 1) for diagnosing and/or stratifying the risk of diseases. Also disclosed is a method for diagnosing and/or stratifying the risk of diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, cardiac insufficiency, and infections and/or inflammations of the lungs and respiratory tract. In said method, the CT-proADM (SEQ ID No. 1) marker, or a partial peptide of fragment thereof, or said marker contained in a marker combination (panel, cluster) is determined in a patient who is to be examined. The invention further relates to a diagnostic apparatus as well as a kit for carrying out said method.