Urinary Podocyte-Associated mRNA profile in Various Stages of Diabetic Nephropathy
2011

Urinary mRNA Profiles in Diabetic Nephropathy

Sample size: 64 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Zheng Min Lv, Lin-Li Ni, Jie Ni, Hai-Feng Li, Qing Ma, Kun-Ling Liu, Bi-Cheng Liu

Primary Institution: Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China

Hypothesis

The urinary mRNA profile of podocyte-associated molecules may provide important clinical insight into the different stages of diabetic nephropathy.

Conclusion

The urinary mRNA profiles of synaptopodin, podocalyxin, CD2-AP, α-actin4, and podocin increase with the progression of diabetic nephropathy, suggesting they may serve as useful biomarkers.

Supporting Evidence

  • The urinary mRNA levels of all genes studied were significantly higher in the diabetic nephropathy group compared with controls.
  • mRNA levels increased with diabetic nephropathy progression.
  • Urinary mRNA levels positively correlated with urinary albumin excretion and blood urea nitrogen.

Takeaway

This study found that certain molecules in urine can help doctors understand how bad someone's kidney disease is if they have diabetes.

Methodology

Patients with diabetic nephropathy and healthy controls were studied, and urinary mRNA levels of specific podocyte-associated genes were quantified using real-time PCR.

Potential Biases

Potential biases may arise from the selection of participants and the reliance on urinary mRNA as a biomarker.

Limitations

The study was limited to a specific population and may not be generalizable to all diabetic nephropathy patients.

Participant Demographics

51 patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy and 13 healthy controls, with varying ages and sex distributions.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Confidence Interval

95% confidence interval, 0.623 to 0.883

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0020431

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