Intra-renal and urinary mRNA expression of podocyte-associated molecules for the estimation of glomerular podocyte loss

Figures & data

TABLE 1.  Demographic and baseline clinical data

Subjects	21
Sex (M:F)	15:6
Age, years	53.0 ± 11.4
Urine protein (g/day)	4.5 ± 3.8
Serum creatinine (μmol/L)	167.6 ± 94.4
Estimated GFR (mL/min per 1.73 m^2)	56.1 ± 31.4

Note: GFR, glomerular filtration rate.

FIGURE 1.  Relations between glomerular podocyte number and (a) intra-renal mRNA expression and (b) urinary mRNA expression of podocyte-associated molecules (nephrin, podocin, and synaptopodin). Gene expression data are depicted as the ratio to control.

FIGURE 2.  Relations between intra-renal and urinary mRNA expression of podocyte-associated molecules: (a) nephrin; (b) podocin; and (c) synaptopodin. Gene expression data are depicted as the ratio to control.

FIGURE 3.  Relations between and intra-renal mRNA expression of podocyte-associated molecules (nephrin, podocin, and synaptopodin) and (a) baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR); and (b) degree of tubulointerstitial scarring in renal biopsy. Gene expression data are depicted as the ratio to control.

TABLE 2.  Correlation between the rate of renal function decline and the glomerular podocyte number, intra-renal, and urinary gene expression

	GFR decline rate
Gene	r	p
Glomerular podocyte number	−0.201	0.423
Intra-renal gene expression
Nephrin	0.121	0.622
Podocin	0.118	0.632
Synaptopodin	0.146	0.522
Urinary gene expression
Nephrin	−0.187	0.458
Podocin	−0.422	0.081
Synaptopodin	−0.352	0.152

Note: GFR, glomerular filtration rate.