Kidney Diseases: The Age of Molecular Markers

Kidney diseases are conditions that increase the morbidity and mortality of those afflicted. Diagnosis of these conditions is based on parameters such as the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), measurement of serum and urinary creatinine levels and equations derived from these measurements (Wasung, Chawla, Madero. Clin Chim Acta 438:350–357, 2015). However, serum creatinine as a marker for measuring renal dysfunction has its limitations since it is altered in several other physiological situations, such as in patients with muscle loss, after intense physical exercise or in people on a high protein diet (Riley, Powers, Welch. Res Q Exerc Sport 52(3):339–347, 1981; Juraschek, Appel, Anderson, Miller. Am J Kidney Dis 61(4):547–554, 2013). Besides the fact that serum creatinine is a marker that indicates glomerular damage, it is necessary the discovery of new biomarkers that reflect not only glomerular damage but also tubular impairment. Recent advances in Molecular Biology have led to the generation or identification of new biomarkers for kidney diseases such as: Acute Kidney Failure (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), nephritis or nephrotic syndrome. There are recent markers that have been used to aid in diagnosis and have been shown to be more sensitive and specific than classical markers, such as neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) or kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) (Wasung, Chawla, Madero. Clin Chim Acta 438:350–357, 2015; George, Gounden. Adv Clin Chem 88:91–119, 2019; Han, Bailly, Abichandani, Thadhani, Bonventre. Kidney Int 62(1):237–244, 2002; Fontanilla, Han. Expert Opin Med Diagn 5(2):161–173, 2011). However, early diagnostic biomarkers are still necessary to assist the intervention and monitor of the progression of these conditions.