Integrative analysis of -omics data and histologic scoring in renal disease and transplantation: renal histogenomics

The histologic scoring of renal biopsies is still the gold standard for renal disease classification. The Banff classification scheme and the chronic allograft damage index are histopathologic scoring schemes widely used in renal transplantation. The determination of genome-wide gene expression profiles in human renal biopsies has the potential to serve as independent validation data sets and also provide a more precise evaluation of the functional status behind the visible morphologic alterations. It is expected that results from high-throughput-omics experiments will lead to improved classification schemes in the near future as also discussed at recent Banff meetings. In this review we give an overview on-omics studies, focusing on the association of molecular changes on the transcript as well as on the protein level and morphologic scoring schemes in renal disease and transplantation.