Recent progress in urinary proteomics

Urinary proteomics has become one of the most attractive subdisciplines in clinical proteomics as the urine is an ideal source for the discovery of noninvasive biomarkers for kidney and nonkidney diseases. This field has been growing rapidly as indicated by >80 original research articles on urinary proteome analyses appearing since 2001, of which 28 (approximately 1/3) had been published within the year 2006. The most common technologies used in recent urinary proteome studies remain gel-based methods (1-DE, 2-DE and 2-D DIGE), whereas LC-MS/MS, SELDI-TOF MS, and CE-MS are other commonly used techniques. In addition, mass spectrometric immunoassay (MSIA) and array technology have also been applied. This review provides an extensive but concise summary of recent applications of urinary proteomics. Proteomic analyses of dialysate and ultrafiltrate fluids derived from renal replacement therapy (or artificial kidney) are also discussed.