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Assessment of Kidney Function in Mouse Models of Glomerular Disease
Published on: June 30, 2018
Quantification of urinary podocyte-derived migrasomes for the diagnosis of kidney disease
Rong Yang1,2, Heng Zhang1, Si Chen3
1Department of Emergency, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
Abstract:
Migrasomes represent a recently uncovered category of extracellular microvesicles, spanning a diameter range of 500 to 3000 nm. They are emitted by migrating cells and harbour a diverse array of RNAs and proteins. Migrasomes can be readily identified in bodily fluids like serum and urine, rendering them a valuable non-invasive source for disease diagnosis through liquid biopsy. In this investigation, we introduce a streamlined and effective approach for the capture and quantitative assessment of migrasomes, employing wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-coated magnetic beads and flow cytometry (referred to as WBFC). Subsequently, we examined the levels of migrasomes in the urine of kidney disease (KD) patients with podocyte injury and healthy volunteers using WBFC. The outcomes unveiled a substantial increase in urinary podocyte-derived migrasome concentrations among individuals with KD with podocyte injury compared to the healthy counterparts. Notably, the urinary podocyte-derived migrasomes were found to express an abundant quantity of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) proteins. The presence of PLA2R proteins in these migrasomes holds promise for serving as a natural antigen for the quantification of autoantibodies against PLA2R in the serum of patients afflicted by membranous nephropathy. Consequently, our study not only pioneers a novel technique for the isolation and quantification of migrasomes but also underscores the potential of urinary migrasomes as a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of KD with podocyte injury.
Insights
Researchers developed a new method to detect migrasomes, which are extracellular vesicles found in urine. Increased urinary migrasomes indicate kidney disease (KD) with podocyte injury, offering a potential non-invasive diagnostic biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Migrasomes are novel extracellular microvesicles (500-3000 nm) released by migrating cells.
- They contain various RNAs and proteins and are detectable in bodily fluids like urine.
- Migrasomes offer potential as non-invasive biomarkers for disease diagnosis via liquid biopsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a method for capturing and quantifying migrasomes.
- To assess urinary migrasome levels in kidney disease (KD) patients with podocyte injury versus healthy individuals.
- To investigate the presence of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) on urinary migrasomes.
Main Methods:
- Developed a Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA)-coated magnetic bead and flow cytometry (WBFC) method for migrasome capture and quantification.
- Analyzed urine samples from KD patients with podocyte injury and healthy controls using WBFC.
- Quantified PLA2R protein expression on urinary migrasomes.
Main Results:
- The WBFC method provided streamlined and effective capture and quantification of migrasomes.
- Urinary migrasome concentrations were significantly elevated in KD patients with podocyte injury compared to healthy controls.
- Urinary podocyte-derived migrasomes were found to be abundant in phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) proteins.
Conclusions:
- The WBFC technique is a novel and effective approach for isolating and quantifying migrasomes.
- Urinary migrasomes show promise as a biomarker for early diagnosis of KD with podocyte injury.
- PLA2R-expressing urinary migrasomes may serve as a diagnostic antigen for anti-PLA2R autoantibodies in membranous nephropathy.
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