The present invention describes compositions and methods designed to determine the presence or amount of natriuretic peptides, or their fragments, in a sample. The degradation of natriuretic peptides is an ongoing process that may be a function of, inter alia, the elapsed time between onset of an event triggering natriuretic peptide release into the tissues and the time the sample is obtained or analyzed; the quantity of proteolytic enzymes present; etc. This degradation can produce circulating amounts of natriuretic peptides having reduced or lost biological function. The present invention provides, inter alia, assays designed to accurately measure biologically active natriuretic peptides, and compositions to inhibit a previously unknown pathway for degradation of natriuretic peptides.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of PCT Application No. PCT/US04/26984, filed Aug. 19, 2004, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/542,086, filed Aug. 20, 2003, and which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/645,874, filed Aug. 20, 2003, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/419,059, filed Apr. 17, 2003, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/835,298, filed Apr. 11, 2002, and which is a Continuation-in-Part of PCT Application No. PCT/US02/26604, filed Aug. 20, 2002, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/313,775, filed Aug. 20, 2004, and 60/334,964, filed Nov. 30, 2001, and 60/346,485, filed Jan. 2, 2002, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/419,059 is also a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/139,086, filed May 4, 2002, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/288,871, filed May 4, 2001, and 60/315,642, filed Aug. 28, 2001, from each of which priority is claimed, and each of which is fully incorporated by reference herein.
