xMAP® multiplex assays were used to interrogate samples
In work powered in part by Luminex’s xMAP® Technology, scientists have uncovered promising biomarkers that may signal the loss of renal function in people with IgA nephropathy, the most common form of glomerulonephritis. In this 10-minute video presentation, David Wimbury from the University of Leicester shares experimental data and offers ideas about how this could serve patients facing end-stage renal disease.
Among the challenges for people with IgA nephropathy — and for scientists studying it — are the variability of disease progression, which currently can’t be intuited at diagnosis; the reliance on renal biopsy, a painful and invasive procedure; and continuing uncertainty around the disease mechanism (Wimbury describes the leading hypothesis about this in his talk). Another challenge Wimbury highlights is that existing biomarkers believed to be associated with IgA nephropathy typically came from studies that did not correct for renal function, so their actual connection to the onset of renal disease is not clear.
Cytokines Had Significant Correlation with Renal Function
For this study, scientists focused on cytokines, which have been shown to be elevated in patients with IgA nephropathy and can be measured in serum, not biopsy samples. They selected 32 types based on involvement in immunoglobulin synthesis or IgA nephropathy or B and T cell activation and maturation. Using xMAP assays supplied by Bio-Techne, the team interrogated those cytokines in samples from two groups of patients: 267 patients with normal renal function and 60 patients with impaired renal function. In both groups, one-third of patients had IgA nephropathy, one-third had a condition called membranous nephropathy, and the remaining third did not have either of these conditions.
Results revealed that 15 of the cytokines had a significant correlation with renal function, though far fewer showed specificity to IgA nephropathy. The team has now assembled a panel of biomarkers elevated in this condition and plans to conduct further studies to understand their relevance to disease progression and therapy response.
The presentation is supplied by the presenter listed and is not endorsed by Luminex Corporation.
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