Biomarkers and Kidney Disease Evaluation
Summary
Biomarkers have transformed the evaluation of kidney disease by offering quantifiable indicators of renal function, injury and prognosis. Traditional markers such as serum creatinine and albuminuria remain the clinical mainstay for assessing glomerular filtration and tubular integrity, yet they often lack sensitivity to early or subclinical damage. Emerging biomarkers span small molecules, proteins and transcripts detectable in blood, urine or dialysate. These include low-molecular-weight proteins, cytokines, proteomic signatures and gene expression profiles, each reflecting distinct pathophysiological pathways such as inflammation, fibrosis, tubular dysfunction and immune activation. The integration of multiplex assays, advanced mass spectrometry and transcriptomics has enabled simultaneous measurement of multiple analytes, improving risk stratification, monitoring of residual renal function and prediction of progression to end-stage disease. Globally, such markers facilitate personalised care, guiding therapeutic optimisation in conditions from diabetic nephropathy to haemodialysis and transplantation.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have established multiplexed mass spectrometry assays for absolute quantification of putative biomarkers in chronic kidney disease. A panel comprising beta-2-microglobulin, pigment epithelium-derived factor, AMBP, lysozyme C and haemoglobin subunit beta was measured in plasma from a longitudinal cohort. Five proteins showed significant association with estimated glomerular filtration rate and three with adverse outcomes. The combined marker panel outperformed individual analytes in predicting disease progression, laying methodological groundwork for prospective validation and clinical translation of multiplex biomarker assays.
Biomarkers and Kidney Disease Evaluation publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in biomarkers and kidney disease evaluation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Biomarker: A measurable molecule indicating normal or pathogenic processes or responses to therapy.
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): A calculated index of kidney filtration capacity based on serum creatinine and demographic variables.
Beta-2-microglobulin (β2M): A low-molecular-weight protein filtered by glomeruli and reabsorbed in tubules, elevated in renal impairment.
Beta-trace protein (BTP): A lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase used as an alternative endogenous marker of glomerular filtration.
Multiplex mass spectrometry: An analytical technique allowing simultaneous quantification of multiple proteins or peptides in complex samples.
Haemodialysis: A renal replacement therapy in which blood is filtered through a dialyser to remove waste products and excess fluids.
References
- Multiplexed MRM-based protein quantification of putative prognostic biomarkers for chronic kidney disease progression in plasma. Scientific Reports (2020).
- The Prognostic Role of Serum β-Trace Protein Levels among Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis. Diagnostics (2024).
- Association between serum β2-microglobulin levels and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in chinese patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. BMC Nephrology (2023).
- Urinary Sediment Transcriptomic and Longitudinal Data to Investigate Renal Function Decline in Type 1 Diabetes. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2020).
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