Detection of pro angiogenic and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with CKD

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiology
• Proteomics
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), both native and post-transplant.
• Identifying novel biomarkers for vascular injury and inflammation is crucial for managing CVD risk in CKD populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare plasma and extracellular vesicle (EV) proteomes in native and post-transplant CKD patients.
• To identify novel protein biomarkers associated with vascular injury and inflammation in CKD.

Main Methods:

• Aptamer-based proteomic assay was employed to analyze plasma and circulating EVs.
• Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was utilized to identify activated signaling pathways.

Main Results:

• Proteins involved in angiogenesis were significantly elevated in both native and post-transplant CKD patients compared to controls.
• Ephrin receptor signaling, serine biosynthesis, and transforming growth factor-β pathways were activated in both CKD groups.
• Pro-inflammatory proteins were significantly increased specifically in the EVs of native CKD patients, with IPA highlighting acute phase response, IGF-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 signaling.

Conclusions:

• Angiogenesis pathways are activated in both plasma and EVs of CKD patients.
• Inflammation pathways are activated in EVs of native CKD patients.
• Common activated pathways in both native and post-transplant CKD may indicate shared underlying mechanisms contributing to CVD.