Background: Podocytes associated proteins are essential in the maintenance of a healthy glomerular filtration barrier, a spectrum of different glomerular diseases occurs due to podocyte abnormalities. Urinary podocytes mRNAs are a more accurate tool for monitoring the progression of different glomerular diseases than proteinuria.
Methods: Quantification of podocyte mRNAs in urinary sediment by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, lupus nephritis patients (LN) and the healthy controls, each group contains 15 individuals to be correlated with proteinuria level and eGFR (by MDRD equation).
Results: the urinary podocyte mRNAs in both idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and LN groups differed significantly in comparison to that of controls, there was a significant correlation when comparing renal function tests and estimated glomerular filtration rate (by MDRD equation) between nephrotic, LN groups and control group, the value of podocin showed significant correlation in active LN subgroup with its corresponding value in the non-active LN subgroup.
Conclusions: This study has revealed that urine pellet podocyte mRNAs can be used as a tool for monitoring the progression of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and lupus nephritis patients and that urinary podocin can be used as a marker for lupus nephritis activity.