Method for measuring human megalin
This invention provides a method for measuring human megalin that can be performed in a simpler manner within a shorter period of time than is possible with conventional techniques, and that can also quantify human megalin. This invention also provides a method that enables diagnosis of functional diseases, which are specific to cells, tissues, or organs, in a site-directed manner at an early stage. Measurement of human megalin enables detection of a disease in an organ in which megalin expression is observed.
1. A method for early stage detecting and treating a renal disease, which method comprises:
(i) determining a human megalin level in a urine sample;
(ii) screening for a patient who suffers from or is at high risk of the renal disease indicated by an increased level of human megalin in a urine sample in comparison to the human megalin level in a healthy subject; and
(iii) treating the patient identified by step (ii),
wherein the renal disease is selected from the group consisting of nephritis, nephropathy, and a renal tubular disorder.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the human megalin level is determined by a ligand binding assay.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the ligand is capable of binding to human megalin and is selected from the group consisting of an anti-human megalin antibody, a lectin that is specific to a sugar chain of human megalin, a vitamin-binding protein, a lipoprotein, a hormone, insulin, epithelial growth factor (EGF), prolactin, leptin, thyroglobulin, an immune or stress response-associated protein, an enzyme, a toxin, a carrier protein, and a receptor-associated protein.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (iii) comprising administering to the patient a steroid, an antibiotic, an immunosuppressive drug, or a combination thereof.