Various nucleic acids and proteins have been identified by differential hybridization methods as useful as markers for diagnosing kidney damage. The identified marker proteins include (I) androgen related protein, SON protein, FUSE binding Protein 1, claudin10, heat shock protein, phospho triesterase related protein, ubiquitin protein ligase Nedd-4, and Ac39/physophilin, and (II) disabled-2 p96, palmitylated serine/threonine kinase, tumor differentially expressed 1 protein, cytochrome oxidase III, TLH 39 protein precursor, hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 4 delta -3 beta, and glutathione peroxidase III. The proteins of group (I), and antagonists of the proteins of group (II), are useful for protecting mammals against kidney damage.