Genetic Markers and Liquid Biopsy for Kidney Diseases

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2024 | Viewed by 9641

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Urology, North Hospital, CHU Saint-Etienne, 42100 Saint-Etienne, France
Interests: molecular markers; liquid biopsy; renal cell carcinomas; liquid biopy technology; urological cancer

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Guest Editor
Department of Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation, North Hospital, CHU Saint Etienne, 42100 Saint Etienne, France
Interests: chronic kidney diseases; molecular markers; kidney biopsy; liquid biopsy; kidney transplatation; nephropathy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the modern era, technical advances in molecular biology have proven successful in the understanding of the pathogenesis of kidney diseases. The recent advents of next-generation sequencing and high-throughput functional genomics techniques have allowed us to produce molecular fingerprints that characterize the expressions of genes within different kidney cells. As a result, significant molecular markers have been found among kidney diseases.

However, many kidney diseases such as rejection of kidney transplantation, kidney cancer, IgA nephropathy and other chronic kidney diseases are still diagnosed by kidney tissue biopsy. This tissue biopsy is invasive and can introduce some serious complications. Liquid biopsy analyzes biomarkers in bodily fluids. Liquid biopsies are preferable to tissue biopsies because they are less invasive. Liquid biopsy technologies based on circulating DNA/RNA, extracellular vesicles and exosomes have been explosive. The analysis of gene expressions by liquid biopsy technology represents a promising new avenue for the diagnosis and prognosis of kidney diseases.

This Special Issue in Genes titled “Genetic Markers and Liquid Biopsy for Kidney Diseases” will provide a monographic portrait of the current advances in molecular biomarkers and liquid biopsy technology for the clinical management of kidney diseases including kidney cancer, kidney transplantation, nephropathy and chronic kidney disease. We especially welcome review articles (either systematic or discursive), mini-reviews, new methods, original research studies and short communications of preliminary, but significant, experimental results.

Prof. Dr. Guorong Li
Prof. Dr. Christophe Mariat
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • molecular markers
  • renal cell carcinoma
  • kidney transplantation
  • nephropathy
  • chronic kidney disease
  • acute kidney injury
  • kidney biopsy
  • liquid biopsy
  • liquid biopsy technology
  • circulating DNA or RNA
  • extracellular vesicles
  • exosomes

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Review

12 pages, 584 KiB  
Review
Liquid Biopsy: A New Avenue for the Diagnosis of Kidney Disease: Diabetic Kidney Disease, Renal Cancer, and IgA Nephropathy
by Jill Dybiec, Weronika Frąk, Joanna Kućmierz, Julita Tokarek, Armanda Wojtasińska, Ewelina Młynarska, Jacek Rysz and Beata Franczyk
Genes 2024, 15(1), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15010078 - 07 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1581
Abstract
Kidney diseases are some of the most common healthcare problems. As the population of elderly individuals with concurrent health conditions continues to rise, there will be a heightened occurrence of these diseases. Due to the renal condition being one of the longevity predictors, [...] Read more.
Kidney diseases are some of the most common healthcare problems. As the population of elderly individuals with concurrent health conditions continues to rise, there will be a heightened occurrence of these diseases. Due to the renal condition being one of the longevity predictors, early diagnosis of kidney dysfunction plays a crucial role. Currently, prevalent diagnostic tools include laboratory tests and kidney tissue biopsies. New technologies, particularly liquid biopsy and new detection biomarkers, hold promise for diagnosing kidney disorders. The aim of this review is to present modern diagnostic methods for kidney diseases. The paper focuses on the advances in diagnosing three common renal disorders: diabetic kidney disease, renal cancer, and immunoglobulin A nephropathy. We highlight the significance of liquid biopsy and epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, microRNA, piRNAs, and lncRNAs expression, or single-cell transcriptome sequencing in the assessment of kidney diseases. This review underscores the importance of early diagnosis for the effective management of kidney diseases and investigates liquid biopsy as a promising approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Markers and Liquid Biopsy for Kidney Diseases)
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32 pages, 3774 KiB  
Review
Liquid Biopsy at the Frontier of Kidney Diseases: Application of Exosomes in Diagnostics and Therapeutics
by Ewud Agborbesong, John Bissler and Xiaogang Li
Genes 2023, 14(7), 1367; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14071367 - 28 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1256
Abstract
In the era of precision medicine, liquid biopsy techniques, especially the use of urine analysis, represent a paradigm shift in the identification of biomarkers, with considerable implications for clinical practice in the field of nephrology. In kidney diseases, the use of this non-invasive [...] Read more.
In the era of precision medicine, liquid biopsy techniques, especially the use of urine analysis, represent a paradigm shift in the identification of biomarkers, with considerable implications for clinical practice in the field of nephrology. In kidney diseases, the use of this non-invasive tool to identify specific and sensitive biomarkers other than plasma creatinine and the glomerular filtration rate is becoming crucial for the diagnosis and assessment of a patient’s condition. In recent years, studies have drawn attention to the importance of exosomes for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in kidney diseases. Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles with a lipid bilayer structure, composed of a variety of biologically active substances. In the context of kidney diseases, studies have demonstrated that exosomes are valuable carriers of information and are delivery vectors, rendering them appealing candidates as biomarkers and drug delivery vehicles with beneficial therapeutic outcomes for kidney diseases. This review summarizes the applications of exosomes in kidney diseases, emphasizing the current biomarkers of renal diseases identified from urinary exosomes and the therapeutic applications of exosomes with reference to drug delivery and immunomodulation. Finally, we discuss the challenges encountered when using exosomes for therapeutic purposes and how these may affect its clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Markers and Liquid Biopsy for Kidney Diseases)
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12 pages, 617 KiB  
Review
The Role of PLA2R in Primary Membranous Nephropathy: Do We Still Need a Kidney Biopsy?
by Thomas McDonnell, Henry H. L. Wu, Smeeta Sinha and Rajkumar Chinnadurai
Genes 2023, 14(7), 1343; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14071343 - 26 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1890
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most prevalent cause of nephrotic syndrome amongst the non-diabetic adult population. A fifth of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome cases can be attributed to MN, rising to more than 40% in older patients over 60 years. Most MN cases are [...] Read more.
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most prevalent cause of nephrotic syndrome amongst the non-diabetic adult population. A fifth of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome cases can be attributed to MN, rising to more than 40% in older patients over 60 years. Most MN cases are classified as being of a primary cause, where there is absence of a secondary disease process explaining its manifestation. Traditionally, the standard approach of diagnosing MN involves performing a kidney biopsy as histological evaluation offers not only conclusive evidence of the diagnosis but also provides valuable information regarding disease chronicity and the presence of any other kidney histopathological features. Nevertheless, kidney biopsy is an invasive procedure which poses risks for the patient including bleeding and pain and bears greater costs for the health system. The identification of the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antigen in 2009 was a landmark discovery, one which has evolved our understanding of the disease processes in MN and subsequently our management approach of this condition. Antibodies against PLA2R (PLA2RAb) have since emerged as an attractive non-invasive test option to be applied for the diagnosis and prognostication of primary MN. However, much debate and unknowns remain about the accuracy and reliability of testing for PLA2RAb across various primary MN scenarios. We provide a review summarizing the historical journey of PLA2R in relation to its significance in primary MN and, more importantly, evidence emerging over the years which contemplated the role of PLA2RAb as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in primary MN. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Markers and Liquid Biopsy for Kidney Diseases)
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9 pages, 380 KiB  
Review
BK Virus Infection and BK-Virus-Associated Nephropathy in Renal Transplant Recipients
by Margherita Borriello, Diego Ingrosso, Alessandra Fortunata Perna, Angela Lombardi, Paolo Maggi, Lucia Altucci and Michele Caraglia
Genes 2022, 13(7), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13071290 - 21 Jul 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3721
Abstract
Poliomavirus BK virus (BKV) is highly infective, causing asymptomatic infections during childhood. After the initial infection, a stable state of latent infection is recognized in kidney tubular cells and the uroepithelium with negligible clinical consequences. BKV is an important risk factor for BKV-associated [...] Read more.
Poliomavirus BK virus (BKV) is highly infective, causing asymptomatic infections during childhood. After the initial infection, a stable state of latent infection is recognized in kidney tubular cells and the uroepithelium with negligible clinical consequences. BKV is an important risk factor for BKV-associated diseases, and, in particular, for BKV-associated nephropathy (BKVN) in renal transplanted recipients (RTRs). BKVN affects up to 10% of renal transplanted recipients, and results in graft loss in up to 50% of those affected. Unfortunately, treatments for BK virus infection are restricted, and there is no efficient prophylaxis. In addition, consequent immunosuppressive therapy reduction contributes to immune rejection. Increasing surveillance and early diagnosis based upon easy and rapid analyses are resulting in more beneficial outcomes. In this report, the current status and perspectives in the diagnosis and treatment of BKV in RTRs are reviewed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Markers and Liquid Biopsy for Kidney Diseases)
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