1
|
Guo Q, Qiao P, Wang J, Zhao L, Guo Z, Li X, Fan X, Yu C, Zhang L. Investigating the value of urinary biomarkers in relation to lupus nephritis histopathology: present insights and future prospects. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1421657. [PMID: 39104393 PMCID: PMC11298450 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1421657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Lupus nephritis (LN), a leading cause of death in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients, presents significant diagnostic and prognostic challenges. Although renal pathology offers critical insights regarding the diagnosis, classification, and therapy for LN, its clinical utility is constrained by the invasive nature and limited reproducibility of renal biopsies. Moreover, the continuous monitoring of renal pathological changes through repeated biopsies is impractical. Consequently, there is a growing interest in exploring urine as a non-invasive, easily accessible, and dynamic "liquid biopsy" alternative to guide clinical management. This paper examines novel urinary biomarkers from a renal pathology perspective, encompassing cellular components, cytokines, adhesion molecules, auto-antibodies, soluble leukocyte markers, light chain fragments, proteins, small-molecule peptides, metabolomics, urinary exosomes, and ribonucleic acids. We also discuss the application of combined models comprising multiple biomarkers in assessing lupus activity. These innovative biomarkers and models offer insights into LN disease activity, acute and chronic renal indices, fibrosis, thrombotic microangiopathy, podocyte injury, and other pathological changes, potentially improving the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of LN. These urinary biomarkers or combined models may serve as viable alternatives to traditional renal pathology, potentially revolutionizing the method for future LN diagnosis and observation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qianyu Guo
- Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Pengyan Qiao
- Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Juanjuan Wang
- Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Stem Cell Translational Laboratory, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Li Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhiying Guo
- Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiaochen Li
- Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiuying Fan
- Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Office of Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Taiyuan, China
| | - Chong Yu
- Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Liyun Zhang
- Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- Stem Cell Translational Laboratory, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- Office of Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Taiyuan, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Burcsár S, Toldi G, Kovács L, Szalay B, Vásárhelyi B, Balog A. Urine soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor as a potential biomarker of lupus nephritis activity. Biomarkers 2021; 26:443-449. [PMID: 33825610 DOI: 10.1080/1354750x.2021.1910343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
There is a lack of non-invasive biomarkers to identify lupus nephritis (LN). Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a sensitive biomarker of ongoing inflammation and a potential marker of podocyte dysfunction. The aim of this study was to assess urine and plasma suPAR in LN. 14 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with newly diagnosed LN, 8 active SLE patients (SLEDAI >8) without LN and 31 healthy individuals were enrolled. Urine and plasma samples were taken before the initiation of LN induction therapy, and monthly thereafter. Global and renal disease activity were defined using the SLEDAI-2K and the SLEDAI-2K renal domain score, respectively. suPAR concentrations were measured with the suPARnostic Flex ELISA assay. Urine and plasma suPAR levels were elevated in SLE patients with active LN compared with resolved LN and healthy controls. Urine suPAR levels were comparable to healthy controls in active SLE without LN. Urine and plasma suPAR levels were higher before than after the initiation of LN induction therapy. Prospective follow-up measurements also suggested that urine suPAR levels raised again in patients with a relapse of LN according to SLEDAI-2K renal domain score, whereas plasma suPAR levels did not correlate with renal disease activity. Urine suPAR is a promising LN activity biomarker, given its isolated elevation in urine in active LN and pronounced decrease with LN improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Szilárd Burcsár
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gergely Toldi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Kovács
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Balázs Szalay
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Barna Vásárhelyi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Balog
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Aragón CC, Tafúr RA, Suárez-Avellaneda A, Martínez MDT, Salas ADL, Tobón GJ. Urinary biomarkers in lupus nephritis. J Transl Autoimmun 2020; 3:100042. [PMID: 32743523 PMCID: PMC7388339 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2020.100042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the prototypical autoimmune disease that can affect any organ of the body. Multiple mechanisms may contribute to the pathophysiology of systemic lupus, including failure to remove apoptotic bodies, hyperactivity of self-reactive B and T lymphocytes, abnormal exposure to autoantigens, and increased levels of B-cell stimulatory cytokines. The involvement of the kidney, called lupus nephritis (LN), during the course of the disease affects between 30% and 60% of adult SLE patients, and up to 70% of children. LN is an immune-mediated glomerulonephritis that is a common and serious finding in patients with SLE. Nowadays, renal biopsy is considered the gold standard for classifying LN, besides its degree of activity or chronicity. Nevertheless, renal biopsy lacks the ability to predict which patients will respond to immunosuppressive therapy and is a costly and risky procedure that is not practical in the monitoring of LN because serial repetitions would be necessary. Consequently, many serum and urinary biomarkers have been studied in SLE patients for the complementary study of LN, existing conventional biomarkers like proteinuria, protein/creatinine ratio in spot urine, 24 h urine proteinuria, creatinine clearance, among others and non-conventional biomarkers, like Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), have been correlated with the histological findings of the different types of LN. In this article, we review the advances in lupus nephritis urinary biomarkers. Such markers ideally should be capable of predicting early sub-clinical flares and could be used to follow response to therapy. In addition, some of these markers have been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristian C. Aragón
- GIRAT: Grupo de Investigación en Reumatología, Autoinmunidad y Medicina Traslacional, Fundación Valle Del Lili and Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | - Raúl-Alejandro Tafúr
- GIRAT: Grupo de Investigación en Reumatología, Autoinmunidad y Medicina Traslacional, Fundación Valle Del Lili and Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
- Universidad Icesi, Medical School, Cali, Colombia
| | - Ana Suárez-Avellaneda
- GIRAT: Grupo de Investigación en Reumatología, Autoinmunidad y Medicina Traslacional, Fundación Valle Del Lili and Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | - MD. Tatiana Martínez
- GIRAT: Grupo de Investigación en Reumatología, Autoinmunidad y Medicina Traslacional, Fundación Valle Del Lili and Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
- Universidad Icesi, Medical School, Cali, Colombia
| | - Alejandra de las Salas
- GIRAT: Grupo de Investigación en Reumatología, Autoinmunidad y Medicina Traslacional, Fundación Valle Del Lili and Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
- Universidad Icesi, Medical School, Cali, Colombia
| | - Gabriel J. Tobón
- GIRAT: Grupo de Investigación en Reumatología, Autoinmunidad y Medicina Traslacional, Fundación Valle Del Lili and Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gasparin AA, Pamplona Bueno de Andrade N, Hax V, Tres GL, Veronese FV, Monticielo OA. Urinary biomarkers for lupus nephritis: the role of the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. Lupus 2019; 28:265-272. [PMID: 30712490 DOI: 10.1177/0961203319826695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Renal involvement is one of the main complications of systemic lupus erythematosus, causing a significant impact on patients' morbidity and mortality. Renal biopsy is still the gold standard of diagnosis, but it has many limitations. In this sense, several recent studies aim to identify biomarkers that not only predict disease activity and renal histology, but also lead to earlier treatment. In previous studies, the soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 measured in urine showed a strong association with the presence of lupus nephritis, with clinical and histological activity indexes of the disease and with more severe renal lesions. This paper reviews the main urinary biomarkers of lupus nephritis that have been studied, with special emphasis on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A A Gasparin
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - V Hax
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - G Leví Tres
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - F V Veronese
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - O A Monticielo
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|