Disclosed herein are antibodies specific for erythroferrone and assays comprising the antibodies. Also disclosed are methods for using the assays for the diagnosis or monitoring of disease.

The invention provides methods for identifying protein modulators (e.g., antibody agonists) of eukaryotic cells. The methods typically involve expressing a combinatorial agent library (e.g., via lentiviral vectors) inside a eukaryotic cell type (e.g., a mammalian cell) and then directly selecting for agents (e.g., antibodies) that are agonist of a target molecule (e.g., a signaling receptor) that modulates a phenotype of or elicits a cellular response in the cell. Some related methods involve co-culturing a cell expressing a combinatorial agent library and a second cell, and then selecting agents that modulate a phenotype of or elicit a cellular response in the second cell. Preferably, the agents are antibodies and are introduced into and expressed in the starting cells under conditions each individual cell expresses no more than 3 different members of the antibody library. In addition, the invention provides methods for identifying protein agonists that capable of reprograming or trans-differentiating a target cell. Also provided in the invention are specific agonist antibodies of signaling receptors or biomolecules that modulate a phenotype or effectuate a cellular response in a eukaryotic cell (e.g., agonist antibodies of EpoR, TpoR or G-CSFR). Further provided in the invention are methods for selecting from combinatorial antibody libraries bispecific antibodies that can regulate cell phenotypes.

The invention provides methods for the treatment of subjects having or at risk of having kidney injuries using antibodies that specifically bind Metalloproteinase inhibitor 2 (TIMP-2). Specifically, the methods can be used for the treatment of a subject having chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute kidney injury (AKI), or a subject having an existing diagnosis of one or more of congestive heart failure, preeclampsia, eclampsia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, proteinuria, glomerular filtration below the normal range, cirrhosis, serum creatinine above the normal range, sepsis, or acute renal failure (ARP).

Diagnostics relating to C-type natriuretic and erythropoietin signal peptides and fragments, and kits, uses and applications therefore.

The invention is an ex vivo method for early detection of acute kidney injury in critical patients, which includes the measurements of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), klotho (KL) and erythropoietin (EPO) as biomarkers. These measurements are obtained from a venous blood sample or urine, and allow the determination of the following indicators: 1=([FGF23]p[EPO]p); 2=([FGF23]p/[Klotho]p); 3=([EPO]p)/[Klotho]p); 4=([FGF23]p[EPO]p)/[Klotho]p); where [X]p is defined as the plasma level of a specific molecule (X) which includes fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), klotho (KL) or erythropoietin (EPO). If the value of the indicator 1, 2, 3, 4 or two or more thereof, is equal or higher than a cut-off point (10 U), the indicator and/or indicators allow the identification of patients with high risk of developing AKI, with a high sensitivity/specificity. Therefore high levels of the indicator are associated to a high probability of the presence/development of AKI, which allows to perform specific clinical interventions for patients with AKI. If the value of the indicator 1, 2, 3, 4 or two or more thereof, is lower than the previously mentioned cut-off point, the probability of presence/development of AKI is low, therefore patients require only standard treatment.

Disclosed herein are antibodies specific for erythroferrone and assays comprising the antibodies. Also disclosed are methods for using the assays for the diagnosis or monitoring of disease.

Diagnostics relating to C-type natriuretic and erythropoietin signal peptides and fragments, and kits, uses and applications therefore.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in stroke patients and in patients at risk for stroke. In particular, the invention relates to using assays that detect one or more biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker assays in such patients.