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Updated: May 24, 2026

Detection of MicroRNA Expression in the Kidneys of Immunoglobulin A Nephropathic Mice
Published on: July 8, 2020
The complex of immunoglobulin A and uromodulin as a diagnostic marker for immunoglobulin A nephropathy
Takashi Obara1, Sadaaki Mizoguchi, Yasunori Shimozuru
1KAN Product Creation Unit, Eisai Product Creation Systems, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan. t-obara@hhc.eisai.co.jp
Background:
The only tool to diagnose immunoglobulinn A nephropathy (IgAN) is renal biopsy which requires hospitalization; moreover, renal biopsy has a risk of critical bleeding. Therefore, a non-invasive method for accurate diagnosis of IgAN is desirable and a must-to-have tool for the clinics. For this purpose, we evaluated the diagnostic value of the IgA-uromodulin complex in the urine of patients with IgAN for its feasibility and adequacy.
Method:
We determined the IgA-uromodulin complex as a candidate for a diagnostic marker of IgAN by immunoprecipitation, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and Western blot analysis. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the IgA-uromodulin complex was developed and applied to urine samples obtained from various kidney disease patients.
Result:
One hundred and three of 126 urine samples (81.7%) from IgAN patients were positive for the IgA-uromodulin complex, while only 25 out of 94 urine samples (26.6%) in other kidney disease patients were positive. Sensitivity was 81.7%, specificity was 73.4%, and diagnosis efficiency was 78.2%. The complex was negative in eight urine samples obtained from patients with Alport syndrome which is almost impossible to discriminate from IgAN by routine urinalysis.
Conclusion:
Detection of the urinary IgA-uromodulin complex by ELISA is a useful non-invasive method to diagnose IgAN.
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