Compositions and methods for treating and diagnosing acute myocardial infarction are described. The invention also provides a method of treating an individual to prevent or inhibit damage to myocardial tissue from an acute myocardial infarction comprising administering to the individual an antibody to BMP-1-3, or an antibody to BMP-1-4, or a combination of an antibody BMP-1-3 and an antibody to BMP-1-4 prior to AMI.