Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2025
Use of Capillary Electrophoresis Immunoassay to Search for Potential Biomarkers of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Human Platelets
Published on: February 10, 2020
THSD7A as a Promising Biomarker for Membranous Nephrosis
Shuiqing Jiang1, Dehua Jiang2, Zhiyuan Lian2
1Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neural Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, Fujian, China. biojsq812@163.com.
Abstract:
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune disease of the kidney glomerulus and one of the leading causes of nephrotic syndrome. The disease exhibits heterogeneous outcomes with approximately 30% of cases progressing to end-stage renal disease. Traditionally, the standard approach of diagnosing MN involves performing a kidney biopsy. Nevertheless, kidney biopsy is an invasive procedure that poses risks for the patient including bleeding and pain, and bears greater costs for the health system. The clinical management of MN has steadily advanced owing to the identification of autoantibodies to the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) in 2009 and thrombospondin domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) in 2014 on the podocyte surface. At present, serum anti-PLA2R antibody detection and glomerular PLA2R antigen staining have been used for clinical diagnosis and prognosis, but the related detection of THSD7A has not been widely used in clinical practice. Here, we summarized the emerging knowledge regarding the roles THSD7A plays in MN and its clinical implications as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic response as well as Methods for detecting serum THSD7A antibodies.
Insights
Thrombospondin domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) is implicated in membranous nephropathy (MN), an autoimmune kidney disease. This review explores THSD7A
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a primary cause of nephrotic syndrome, characterized by heterogeneous clinical outcomes.
- Kidney biopsy, the traditional diagnostic method, is invasive and costly.
- Advances in understanding MN pathogenesis include identifying autoantibodies like phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and thrombospondin domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) on podocytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the emerging role of THSD7A in the context of MN.
- To discuss the clinical implications of THSD7A in diagnosis, prognosis, and predicting treatment response.
- To summarize methods for detecting serum THSD7A antibodies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating THSD7A in membranous nephropathy.
- Analysis of diagnostic and prognostic significance of THSD7A autoantibodies.
- Evaluation of THSD7A antibody detection methodologies.
Main Results:
- THSD7A is identified as a target antigen in a subset of MN cases.
- Serum anti-THSD7A antibodies show potential as non-invasive biomarkers for MN diagnosis and prognosis.
- Current detection methods for THSD7A antibodies are evolving.
Conclusions:
- THSD7A plays a significant role in MN pathogenesis and clinical management.
- Non-invasive detection of THSD7A antibodies offers a promising alternative to kidney biopsy.
- Further research is needed to standardize THSD7A antibody detection and integrate it into routine clinical practice.
