A method for measuring the rate of synthesis, breakdown, transport, or other kinetic parameters of a protein in a tissue of medical interest, without requiring physical sampling of said tissue, by a measurement of the protein in a body fluid, the method comprising:
- a) selecting one or more target proteins in a tissue;
- b) administering an isotope-labeled molecule to a subject for a period of time sufficient for said isotope-labeled molecule to enter into and label the one or more target proteins to produce one or more isotope-labeled target proteins;
- c) collecting a volume of a body fluid, wherein said volume comprises one or more isotope-labeled target proteins that escaped or were released from the tissue;
- d) enriching or isolating the one or more isotope-labeled target proteins from said volume;
- e) performing a mass spectrometric measurement of the isotopic content, rate of incorporation, and/or pattern or rate of change in isotopic content and/or pattern of isotope labeling of the one or more enriched or isolated isotope-labeled target proteins;
- f) calculating at least one kinetic parameter of the one or more enriched or isolated isotope-labeled target proteins, wherein the kinetic parameter of the one or more isotope-labeled target proteins from said volume of a body fluid reflects the corresponding kinetic parameter of the one or more target proteins in said tissue;
- and
- g) inferring the at least one kinetic parameter of the one or more target proteins in the tissue based on the corresponding at least one kinetic parameter of the one or more target proteins in the body fluid.