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Researchers have identified new biomarkers for kidney diseases associated with nephrotic syndrome using an innovative approach, as revealed in a recent study. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the research highlights ‘anti-nephrin autoantibodies’ as a reliable indicator for tracking disease progression, offering promising prospects for personalized treatment strategies.
Nephrotic syndrome, characterized by elevated protein levels in urine, is linked to kidney conditions such as minimal change disease (MCD), primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and membranous nephropathy (MN). Researchers attribute this syndrome to podocyte damage, cells crucial for kidney filtration, which allows protein leakage into urine.
To diagnose these conditions effectively, researchers developed a novel technique combining immunoprecipitation with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect anti-nephrin autoantibodies accurately.
Dr. Nicola M. Tomas, co-lead author of the study, commented, “Identifying anti-nephrin autoantibodies as a robust biomarker, alongside our hybrid immunoprecipitation method, enhances our diagnostic capabilities and opens new avenues for closely monitoring kidney disease progression in nephrotic syndrome.”
The study revealed that anti-nephrin autoantibodies were prevalent in 69% of adults with MCD and 90% of children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) who had not received immunosuppressive treatment. Importantly, the levels of these autoantibodies correlated with disease activity, suggesting their potential as a biomarker for disease monitoring. These antibodies were rarely detected in other diseases studied, underscoring their specificity for nephrotic syndrome.
