Serum Metallome Features and Their Effects on Chronic Kidney Disease: A Comparative Study

Epidemiological evidence links exposure to certain metals with decreased kidney function and kidney disease progression. This study investigates the metallome profiles in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and their relationship to disease onset and progression.

A total of 341 CKD patients (CKD group) and 60 healthy controls (HC group) were recruited. Renal function markers, including urea, creatinine (Creat), uric acid (UA), cystatin C (CysC), and complement component 1q (C1q), along with the levels of 26 metal elements, were assessed to examine the relationship between metal element concentrations and renal function markers.

Compared to the HC group, serum concentrations of Li, Mg, Al, Ca, V, Mn, Ni, Cu, Ga, Se, Rb, Mo, Sn, Cs, and Pb were elevated in CKD patients (all P<0.05), while Co, Hg, and U levels were reduced (all P<0.05). Serum concentrations of Li, Al, V, Mo, Sn, Cs, and Hg correlated with renal function markers (Urea |r|=0.146 to 0.545, Creat |r|=0.120 to 0.584, CysC |r|=0.132 to 0.641; all P<0.05). Logistic regression identified Al, V, Co, Ga, Cs, and Pb as independent predictors of CKD onset (all P<0.05), while Li, V, Mo, and Cs were linked to disease progression (all P<0.05). Strong positive correlations were observed between Al and V (r=0.821), Al and Ga (r=0.717), and V and Ga (r=0.646), while Co negatively correlated with Al (r=-0.449), V (r=-0.410), and Ga (r=-0.288).

CKD patients exhibit altered serum levels of various metals. Al, V, Co, Ga, Cs, and Pb are linked to CKD onset, while Li, V, Mo, and Cs relate to its progression. These findings suggest that monitoring specific metal elements like V, Pb and Mo could aid in early CKD detection and progression assessment.