Patent ID: 7939267

Claim:
A method for detecting activation of endothelial cells in a test sample, comprising: measuring the level of a protein complex that is formed between a first cellular component and a second cellular component independently selected from the group consisting of VEGF and PLGF that are cellular components in an angiogenesis signaling pathway present in the endothelial cells comprising mixing: (i) the test sample; (ii) a cleaving probe, which is capable of binding the first cellular component and has a cleavage-inducing moiety; and (iii) one or more binding compounds, wherein each of the binding compounds is capable of binding the first or the second cellular component and wherein each of the one or more binding compounds has one or more molecular tags each attached thereto by a cleavable linkage; wherein cleavage of the cleavable linkage(s) within effective proximity of the cleaving-inducing moiety of the cleaving probe releases the molecular tag(s), wherein detecting the released molecular tag(s) provides a measurement of the protein complex; and wherein a difference in the level of the protein complex relative to the level of the protein complex in a reference sample detects activation of endothelial cells in the test sample.