Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice
10:31

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice

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Serum C3 as an early-warning biomarker for renal pathological progression in DKD

Donghong Ma1,2, Senle Dai1,2, Tongtong Dai1,2

  • 1Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan Medical University, Weihui, Henan, China.

Frontiers in Immunology
|May 1, 2026
PubMed

Insights

In diabetic kidney disease patients with reduced kidney function, lower serum complement component 3 (C3) levels indicate more severe kidney damage and predict disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Immunology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a major complication of diabetes, characterized by progressive renal damage.
  • Complement component 3 (C3) plays a role in inflammation and immune responses, potentially contributing to DKD pathogenesis.
  • Early identification of biomarkers for renal injury and disease progression in DKD is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between serum C3 levels and renal pathological injury in DKD patients across different estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) strata.
  • To evaluate the potential of serum C3 as an early-warning biomarker for DKD progression.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of 187 DKD patients with measured serum C3 levels and evaluated renal biopsies.
  • Patients stratified by eGFR (<90 and ≥90 ml/min/1.73m²).
  • Multivariable regression analyses adjusted for clinical factors; restricted cubic spline and longitudinal analyses performed.

Main Results:

  • Serum C3 levels negatively correlated with renal C3 deposition and eGFR.
  • In patients with low eGFR (<90 ml/min/1.73m²), lower C3 levels were associated with higher renal pathology scores, including interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy.
  • Lower C3 levels (<1.10 g/L) predicted greater 24-hour proteinuria progression over 1 year.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced serum C3 levels are linked to specific renal pathological injuries in DKD patients with impaired kidney function (eGFR <90 ml/min/1.73m²).
  • Serum C3 may serve as a valuable biomarker for assessing renal injury severity and predicting disease progression in DKD.
Abstract

Keywords:
IFTAdiabetic kidney diseaseeGFRrenal pathologyserum C3

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