Mass spectrometry in chronic kidney disease research

Proteomics has evolved into an invaluable tool for biomedical research and for research on renal diseases. A central player in the proteomic revolution is the mass spectrometer and its application in analyzing biological samples. Our need to understand both the identity of proteins and their abundance has led to improvements in the ability of mass spectrometers (such as with the use of the LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometer) to analyze complex (tryptic) peptide mixtures with high sensitivity and high mass accuracy in a high-throughput manner. Unsurprisingly, this occurred coincidentally with dramatic improvements in our understanding of CKD, the mechanisms through which CKD progresses, and the development of candidate CKD biomarkers. This review attempts to present a basic framework for the operational components of mass spectrometers, basic insight into how they are used in renal research, and a discussion on CKD research related to mass spectrometry.