Method to determine TGF-beta

An in vitro method comprising:

• (a) contacting a mammalian physiological sample with a capture moiety to form a capture complex, wherein the capture moiety is capable of binding to TGF-beta-1 or TGF-beta-3;
• (b) contacting the capture complex with a detection moiety comprising a TGF-beta type II receptor extracellular domain to form a detectable complex, wherein the detection moiety comprises a detectable label or a site which binds a detectable label;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence of the detectable complex, thereby identifying a mammal at risk for atherosclerosis or the effect of administering to a mammal a therapeutic agent which increases the level of TGF-beta-1 or TGF-beta-3 in the sample that is bound by the capture and detection moieties.

A method for identifying a patient having, or at risk of, atherosclerosis comprising:

• (a) contacting a sample from the patient with a capture moiety comprising a TGF-beta type II receptor extracellular domain to form a capture complex;
• (b) contacting the capture complex with a detection moiety to form a detectable complex, which detection moiety is capable of binding TGF-beta-1 or TGF-beta-3 and comprises a detectable label or a site which binds a detectable label;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence or amount of the detectable complex, so as to determine the presence or amount of TGF-beta-1 or TGF-beta-3, in the sample, thereby identifying a patient having, or at risk of, atherosclerosis.

A method for identifying a patient having, or at risk of, atherosclerosis comprising:

• (a) contacting a sample from the patient with a capture moiety which is capable of binding TGF-beta-1 or TGF-beta-3 to form a capture complex;
• (b) contacting the capture complex with a detection moiety comprising a TGF-beta type II receptor extracellular domain to form a detectable complex, which detection moiety comprises a detectable label or a site which binds a detectable label;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence or amount of the detectable complex, so as to determine the presence or amount of TGF-beta-1 or TGF-beta-3, in the sample, thereby identifying a patient having, or at risk of, atherosclerosis.

A method for monitoring a mammal that has received one or more administrations of a therapeutic agent to increase the level of TGF-beta, comprising:

• (a) contacting a biological sample from the mammal with a capture moiety comprising the TGF-beta type II receptor extracellular domain to form a capture complex;
• (b) contacting the capture complex with a detection moiety to form a detectable complex, wherein the detection moiety which comprises a detectable label or a site which binds a detectable label;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence or amount of the detectable complex, so as to determine the presence or amount of TGF-beta-1 or TGF-beta-3 in the sample, thereby identifying the effect of administering to a mammal the therapeutic agent which increases the level of TGF-beta-1 or TGF-beta-3.

A method for monitoring a mammal that has received one or more administrations of a therapeutic agent to increase the level of TGF-beta, comprising:

• (a) contacting a biological sample from the mammal with a capture moiety which is capable of binding TGF-beta-1 or TGF-beta-3 to form a capture complex;
• (b) contacting the capture complex with a detection moiety comprising the TGF-beta type II receptor extracellular domain to form a detectable complex, wherein the detection moiety which comprises a detectable label or a site which binds a detectable label;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence or amount of the detectable complex, so as to determine the presence or amount of TGF-beta-1 or TGF-beta-3 in the sample, thereby identifying the effect of administering to the mammal the therapeutic agent which increases the level of TGF-beta-1 or TGF-beta-3.