Identification of Novel Biomarkers for Predicting Kidney Injury Due to Drugs Using “Omic” Strategies

Abstract

Drug-induced kidney injury accounts for 20% of community- and hospital-acquired cases of acute kidney injury (AKI). The incidence is higher among older individuals, who often have co-existing morbidities and are exposed to more diagnostic procedures and therapies. While demographic and clinical components have been identified as risk factors, the proposed cellular mechanisms of drug-induced kidney injury are numerous and complicated. There are also limitations recognized in the use of traditional biomarkers, such as serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, to provide high sensitivity, specificity, and timeliness to identification of drug-induced kidney injury. Therefore, novel biomarkers are currently being investigated, identified, developed, and validated for their performance over the traditional biomarkers. This review will provide an overview of drug-induced kidney injury and will discuss what is known regarding “omic” (proteomic, genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic) biomarker strategies for drugs known to induce nephrotoxicity.

Keywords:

• drug-induced kidney injury
• proteomics
• transcriptomics
• genomics
• metabolomics

Overview of Drug-Induced Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) presents as an abrupt loss of kidney function leading to accumulation of waste products, electrolyte and metabolic disturbances, and fluid status changes. AKI is classified by changes in serum creatinine (SCr) and/or urine output over defined time periods with the severity of injury based on the degree of biomarker change. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is defined as an increase in SCr by ≥0.3 mg/dL within 48 h, ≥50% increase in SCr within 7 days, or urine output < 0.5 mL/kg/h for 6 h.¹ The severity of AKI is staged by the magnitude of change in SCr or urine output. Stage 1 AKI represents a 1.5 to 1.9-fold increase in SCr or reduction in urine output to <0.5 mL/kg/h for 6–12 h.¹ Stage 2 AKI is defined by a 2 to 2.9-fold increase in SCr or reduction in urine output to <0.5 mL/kg/h for ≥12 h.¹ Stage 3 AKI represents a 3-fold increase in SCr or increase to ≥4 mg/dL or initiation of renal replacement therapy.¹ AKI is associated with high mortality, extended length of hospital stay, high rates of renal non-recovery events, and high SCr at hospital discharge.^2,3 Additionally, mortality increases with severity of AKI.² Consequently, strategies to improve early detection of AKI and subsequent intervention are essential to improve patient outcomes.

The epidemiology of AKI has been evaluated in several large observational cohort studies of hospitalized patients. The AKI-EPI study, an international cross-sectional study of 1802 critically ill patients demonstrated that 57.3% of these patients developed AKI, with 18.4% developing stage 1, 8.9% stage 2, and 30% stage 3.² Drug-induced kidney disease (DIKD) occurred in 14.4% of patients in the AKI-EPI study cohort compared to 26% in the PICARD study cohort.^2,3 The most common implicated medications included diuretics (32.4%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (11.9%), aminoglycosides (6.8%), glycopeptides (1.4%), and contrast media (2.1%).²

Drug-induced kidney disease can be classified as Type A and B reactions. Type A reactions are usually dose-dependent reactions and predictable based on the known pharmacology of the drug.⁴ On the other hand, Type B reactions are dose independent and idiosyncratic.⁴ Historically, the definition of DIKD in published studies has been variable and has included 0.3 to 0.5 mg/dL increases in SCr and/or a 50% rise in SCr. However, as DIKD represents a spectrum of different pathophysiologic mechanisms causing acute, sub-acute, and chronic insult to different locations along the nephron, not all types of kidney injury result in a change in SCr.

In 2015, DIKD was defined using four standardized phenotypes: AKI, glomerular injury, tubular disorders, and nephrolithiasis.⁵ The biomarkers for the respective phenotypes were SCr or urine output for AKI, proteinuria or hematuria for glomerular injury, hypophosphatemia, glucosuria or hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis in addition to a potassium disorder for tubular disorders, and crystalluria for nephrolithiasis. The AKI phenotype definition was further refined as either a rise or decline in SCr in relation to drug initiation or withdrawal/dose reduction, respectively. A decline in SCr after drug withdrawal or dose reduction was added to address clinical scenarios in which baseline SCr was unknown or the drug was administered as an outpatient, preventing the clinical observation of the peak SCr. The severity of AKI was subsequently defined as stage 2 when there was a doubling or greater of SCr after drug exposure or 50% reduction in SCr after drug withdrawal or dose reduction. A goal of the phenotype standardization process was improving specificity of case diagnoses given the multifactorial nature of AKI due to drugs.

Secondary criteria were also defined to further classify sub-phenotypes. For example, the AKI phenotype includes acute tubular necrosis and acute interstitial nephritis. Secondary criteria such as fractional excretion of sodium or urinary casts help to differentiate injuries.^2,3

In the oncology population, cisplatin and ifosfamide are common nephrotoxins causing AKI or tubular disorders. Targeted cancer therapeutics, such as anti-angiogenesis drugs that specifically inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tyrosine kinase, have been associated with hypertension, proteinuria, AKI, and thrombotic microangiopathy.⁶ Anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (anti-CTLA-4) and anti-programmed death 1 (anti-PD-1) receptor antibodies target immune checkpoints, which enhance tumor-directed immune responses to destroy cancers. Checkpoint inhibitors are known to cause immune-related adverse effects, with recent reports indicating latent onset AKI due to acute tubulointerstitial nephritis.^7,8 Several recent reviews have highlighted the kidney complications of targeted cancer chemotherapeutics.^9–14

Biomarkers to inform early and more sensitive detection of DIKD are needed. These biomarkers should also be specific enough to identify the sites of injury and related to the phenotype of the injury. It is plausible that the presence of combined DIKD phenotypes, due to single or drug combinations may require a panel of biomarkers for diagnosis. Omic strategies, such as proteomics, genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, will undoubtedly aid our understanding of the pathophysiology of AKI and DIKD and improve screening, detection, and disease prognostication through novel biomarker discovery and a systems-based approach. The following sections will highlight studies that have employed omic techniques using cells, kidney tissue, urine, and blood to identify potential biomarkers for DIKD. For each section, we conducted a literature search of in-vitro, animal and human nephrotoxicity omic studies published within the last 10 years using an array of shot-gun and targeted approaches. Studies selected for inclusion were those that identified novel targets or approaches, evaluated drugs that had less published data, and/or contained significant or new information pertaining to human data.

Proteomics

Protein Biomarkers for Nephrotoxicants

Shot-gun and targeted proteomic studies have been conducted as a tool for understanding mechanisms and to identify biomarkers of nephrotoxicity. The following section (Table 1) will highlight proteomic studies for several common nephrotoxic drugs. The proteomic methods employed in these studies include both traditional and novel methods, as highlighted in the Supplemental material. Human kidney cells (HEK293, HK-2), animal urine and kidney tissue, and human urine are accessible tools to evaluate proteomics of DIKD. Confirmation and/or diagnoses of kidney injury in animal and human studies use traditional elevations in SCr and blood urea nitrogen (BUN).

Table 1 Proteomic Changes for Specific Nephrotoxicants

Nephrotoxicant	Model	Method	Representative Protein Biomarker Changes	Time course	Reference
Acyclovir	Mouse kidney	2-DE, MALDI-TOF-MS, IHC	↓VEGF, ↓VEGFR, ↑MHC class II antigen, ↑glyoxalase 1, ↑peroxiredoxin 1,↑αB-crystallin, ↑fibroblast growth factor receptor 1-IIIb, ↓cytochrome c oxidase subunit Vb	9 days	[^Citation15]
Amphotericin B	Human urine	ELISA	NGAL	Up to 14 days	[^Citation16]
Carboplatin	HK-2 cells	2-DE, MALDI-TOF/TOF MS/MS	↓Elongation factor 1-α1 (EF1A1), ↓ATP synthase subunit α (ATPA), ↓serine hydroxymethyltransferase (GLYM), ↑thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase (PRDX3), ↑headcase protein homolog (HDC), ↑α-enolase (ENOA), ↑heat shock protein 60kDa/70kDa (Hsp60/70)	24 h	[^Citation17]
Cisplatin	HK-2 Cells	2-DE, MALDI-TOF/TOF MS/MS	↓Elongation factor 1-α1 (EF1A1), ↑ATP synthase subunit α (ATPA), ↑serine hydroxymethyltransferase (GLYM), ↓thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase (PRDX3), ↑headcase protein homolog (HDC), ↓α-enolase (ENOA), ↑heat shock protein 60kDa/70kDa (Hsp60/70)	24 h	[^Citation17]
Cisplatin	RPTEC/TERT1 cells	iTRAQ/HPLC-MS	↑Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), ↑alpha-enolase (ENO1), ↑elongation factor 2 (EEF2), ↓NADH dehydrogenase 1 (NDUFB6), ↓protein DJ-1 (PARK7), ↓apoptosis-inducing factor 1 (AIFM1), ↓cytochromes b and c (UQCRC1, CYCS), ↑ Superoxide dismutase 1/2 (SOD1/2), ↑peroxiredoxin 1	14 days	[^Citation18]
Cisplatin	Rat urine	ELISA, fluorimetric activity	↑urinary Glutamyl aminopeptidase (GluAp) activity, ↑GluAp by ELISA	24 h	[^Citation19]
Cisplatin	Rat urine	ELISA, iTRAQ, MALDI TOF LC-MS/MS	↑Nestin, ↑fetuin-A, ↑hamartin, ↑T-kininogen	5 day	[^Citation20]
Cisplatin	Rat urine and kidney	IHC, 1-DE	Organic anion transporter 5 (Oat5)	48 h	[^Citation21]
Cisplatin	Mouse kidney and urine	1-DE	Transglutaminase 1	1–3 days	[^Citation22]
Cyclosporine	Rat kidney – salt depletion	2-DE, LC-MS/MS	↓fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP), ↓CD147, ↓Phospho-protein kinase B (AKT), ↓Phospho-IKappa gamma kinase (IKKɣ), ↓Phospho-nuclear factor κβ (NF-κβ) p-65, ↑chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1), ↓PDZK1, ↓aquaporin 1, ↓Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), ↑phospho-Janus kinase 2 JAK2, ↑phospho- Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)	28 days	[^Citation27]
Cyclosporine	Rat kidney	2-DE, LC-MS/MS	↑Vimentin, ↑caldesmon, actin binding protein 1/3 (ABP1/3), ↑plastin 3T, ↓regucalcin, ↓calbindin, ↓NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (NADH-UO), ↑pyruvate kinase, ↓kidney aminoacylase I (KA-1), ↑fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase	28 days	[^Citation26]
Cyclosporine	HEK-293 cells	SILAC, LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF	↑cyclophillin A/B, ↑macrophage migration inhibitor, ↓galectin-3-binding protein, ↓ a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif S1 (ADAMTS1), ↓collagen α-1 (II, IV), ↓fibrinogen, ↓cystatin c, ↓fibrillin-2, ↓Titin, ↓ɣ-glutamyl hydrolase, ↓Insulin growth factor binding protein 2/5 (IGFBP2/5), ↓clusterin, ↓Beta-2 microglobulin (β2MG), ↓apolipoprotein E	24 h	[^Citation25]
Cyclosporine	Rat plasma	MALDI-TOF-MS, ESI-TOF-MS/MS	↑Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG), ↑clusterin (CLUS), ↓haptoglobin (Hp)	7 days	[^Citation29]
Cyclosporine	Rat kidney	2-DE, MALDI-TOF-MS	↓Calbindin, ↓alpha-2µ-globulin	14 days	[^Citation28]
Gentamicin	Rat urine	LC-MS/MS	↑Collagen 1A1/2A1/3A1, 1A2 (COL1A1/2A1/3A1/1A2), ↑fetuin-A (FETUA), ↑Apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4), ↑Fibrinogen beta chain (FIBB), ↑Osteopontin (OSTP), ↑Epidermal growth factor (EGF), ↑Tropomyosin 1 (TPM1), ↑Thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRB), ↑albumin, ↑clusterin	3 days	[^Citation31]
Gentamicin	Rat kidney	2-DE, MALDI-TOF	↑plasma retinol binding protein 4 (PRBP4), ↓glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT), ↓catalase, ↓glutathione peroxidase 1, ↓peroxiredoxin-1	14 days	[^Citation36]
Gentamicin	Rat urine	2-DE, LC-ESI QUAD TOF	↑regenerating islet-derived protein IIIβ (Reg IIIb), ↑gelsolin, ↑N-acetyl-beta D glucosaminidase (NAG), ↑Kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), ↑Neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL), ↑Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1)	3 days	[^Citation30]
Gentamicin	Rat kidney	IMS	↑transthyretin	7 days	[^Citation37]
Gentamicin	Rat urine	2-DE, MALDI-TOF-MS	↑albumin, ↑hemopexin, ↑transferrin, ↑vitamin D binding protein	7 days	[^Citation32]
Gentamicin	Rat urine and kidney	Luminex, IHC	↑Kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1)	72 h	[^Citation33]
Gentamicin	Monkey urine	ELISA and Luminex	↑microalbumin, ↑α-1 microglobulin, ↑clusterin, ↑osteopontin	7 days	[^Citation34]
Gentamicin	Dog urine	ELISA	↑ Neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL), ↑clusterin	1–3 days	[^Citation35]
NSAIDS	Human urine	1-DE, Q-TOF-LC/MS	↑Tamm-Horsfall protein (UROM), ↑ AMBP alpha-1-microglobulin/bikunin precursor (AMBP), ↑ Zinc alpha 2-glycoprotein (ZAZG), ↑ Inter-Alpha-Trypsin Inhibitor Heavy Chain Family Member 4 (ITIH4), ↑ Immunoglobulin Kappa Constant (IGKC), ↑Cystatin M/C (CYTM/C)	NR	[^Citation38]
NSAIDS	Human urine	2-DE, SELDI-TOF-MS	↑albumin, ↑ Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (A1AT), ↑Apolipoprotein H (APOH), ↑Beta actin (ACTB), ↑Beta 2-microglobulin (B2MG), ↑ Prostaglandin D2 Synthase (PTGDS), ↑ Basement membrane-specific heparan sulfate proteoglycan core protein (PGBM), ↑Transthyretin (TTHY), ↑Fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5)	NR	[^Citation39]

Abbreviations: ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; IHC, immunohistochemistry; LC, liquid chromatography; MALDI-TOF, matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; MS, mass spectrometry; MSI, mass spectrometry imaging; NanoESI, nano-electrospray ionization; NGAL, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin; RPTEC, renal proximal tubule epithelial cells; SILAC, stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture; VEGF/R, vascular endothelial growth factor/receptor.

Acyclovir

Acyclovir results in nephrotoxicity manifesting as AKI, acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, and nephrolithiasis. Broad proteomics of acyclovir nephrotoxicity was studied in the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mouse kidney tissue after administration of 600 mg/kg doses daily for 9 days, and demonstrated reductions in VEGF and its receptor, suggesting mechanisms consistent with apoptosis and tissue repair.¹⁵ Furthermore, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) identified up-regulation of glyoxalase 1, peroxiredoxin 1, and αB-crystallin in the oxidative stress pathway. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1-IIIb were also increased.¹⁵ An observed reduction in cytochrome c oxidase subunit Vb suggested mitochondrial damage.

Amphotericin B

Amphotericin B causes nephrotoxicity through vasoconstriction and cell membrane alterations. The performance of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in urine as a biomarker of nephrotoxicity was evaluated in the urine of human patients receiving either the deoxycholate or liposomal formulation.¹⁶ Overall performance of urinary NGAL by area under the curve (AUC) for detection of AKI (on day 5, based on criteria of SCr ≥1.5 x baseline) was 0.68 (95% CI 0.41 to 0.95), suggesting a poor biomarker performance test result. However, for the deoxycholate formulation, the AUC rose to 0.89 (95% CI 0.67 to 1.00), demonstrating a good biomarker performance test result. AKI was found to be detected 3 days earlier with urinary NGAL versus SCr supporting the use of urinary NGAL as a potential early nephrotoxicity biomarker in patients receiving amphotericin B.¹⁶

Platinum Compounds

Cisplatin and carboplatin are chemotherapeutic drugs that cause nephrotoxicity, especially to proximal tubule cells. Proteomic evaluations have been conducted for cisplatin, but are limited for carboplatin. This section will focus on in vitro, animal and human publications with less commonly described biomarkers for platinum nephrotoxicity using targeted and shot-gun proteomic approaches.

Two in vitro studies were identified that assessed proteomics of kidney injury biomarkers for platinum compounds. In a study by Perez et al, exposure of HK-2 cells to carboplatin or cisplatin for 24 h resulted in changes in key proteins involved in ATP synthesis, cellular respiration, oxidative stress, cytoprotection, and apoptosis.¹⁷ (Table 1) Wilmes et al evaluated epithelial barrier function and proteomics in the human renal proximal tubule cell line RPTEC/TERT1.¹⁸ Results showed that barrier function in the cell monolayers was intact while cell stress, as assessed by increases in supernatant lactate, was increased. Proteomic analysis through differential peptide labeling (iTRAQ)/HPLC-MS demonstrated changes to proteins that were involved in mitochondrial and DNA damage, and oxidative stress responses.

Montoro-Molina et al used a targeted approach to demonstrate glutamyl aminopeptidase, an enzyme in rodent renal tubules that can be shed in urine during kidney injury, was increased when Wistar rats were exposed to cisplatin 7 mg/kg.¹⁹ Zhang et al demonstrated that nestin, hamartin, T-kininogen, and fetuin-A were increased in the urine of Sprague–Dawley rats treated with cisplatin compared to ischemia–reperfusion injury by employing MALDI TOF LC-MS/MS and iTRAQ.²⁰

Organic anion transporter 5 (Oat5) is a transporter found on the apical membrane of proximal tubule cells. Bulacio et al treated male Wistar rats with cisplatin 1 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg and demonstrated Oat5 in the urine was proportional to the cisplatin dose.²¹ An important finding was the lack of changes to traditional markers of kidney injury (SCr, BUN) at cisplatin doses <10 mg/kg, despite Oat5 changes, suggesting Oat5 may be a more sensitive marker of kidney damage. Transglutaminase 1 (TG1) is a posttranslational modifying enzyme that catalyzes irreversible cross-linking reactions between proteins and thought to aid in recovery of epithelial cell structural proteins after injury. Furukawa et al evaluated the utility of renal TG1 as an early biomarker of kidney injury in ICR mice treated with cisplatin 20 mg/kg/day.²² The authors reported an increase in expression and activity of TG1 in the proximal tubule within 24 h, with no increases in SCr, suggesting the use of this protein as an early indicator of kidney damage.

A recent publication has profiled potential kidney injury proteins in the urine up to 10 days after cancer patients received a single cisplatin dose.²³ Several potential biomarkers were significantly increased in the urine. Beta 2-microglobulin was increased 3-fold by day 3, while Kidney Injury Molecule 1 (KIM-1) and trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) were increased 2-fold and calbindin was increased 8-fold by day 10. The authors further defined time-dependent changes in these urinary biomarkers in patients receiving multiple cycles of cisplatin.²⁴ The biomarker changes were distinct. KIM-1 concentrations were elevated after the first cisplatin dose and remained elevated through subsequent cycles. Calbindin was elevated 10 days after the first cisplatin dose but displayed a resistance to change at subsequent doses. TFF3 elevations occurred at 3 days after a cisplatin dose in the first and subsequent doses. These elevations occurred without changes to SCr, suggesting the potential for these urinary biomarkers to detect sub-clinical injury.

Cyclosporine

Chronic cyclosporine nephrotoxicity presents histologically with tubular atrophy and stripped interstitial fibrosis. Lamoureux et al evaluated proteomics in HEK-293 cells exposed to cyclosporine and reported down-regulation of proteins involved in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix, stress response, protein folding, and enzymes using stable isotope labeling in cell culture (SILAC) and LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF (Table 1).²⁵ Klawitter et al evaluated proteomic changes in the kidney tissue of rodents (Wistar rats) treated with cyclosporine 10 mg/kg/day for 28 days under either a normal or salt depleted diet.^26,27 Cyclosporine treatment in the presence of a low salt diet led to activation of NF-κB pro-inflammatory signaling and decreased glycolysis²⁷ (Table 1). Rats treated with cyclosporine under normal diets had proteomic changes in calcium homeostasis, cytoskeleton proteins, response to hypoxia, mitochondrial function, and cell metabolism²⁶ (Table 1). Treatment of rats with cyclosporine 45 mg/kg/day for 14 days resulted in a decrease in calbindin and α-2µ-globulin.²⁸ Another study assessed plasma proteomics in Wistar rats after administration of cyclosporine 5 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day for 7 days.²⁹ Significant kidney dysfunction occurred in the 100 mg/kg/day treatment group, with two proteins (clusterin and α-1-acid glycoprotein) demonstrating up-regulation, while haptoglobin showed down-regulation. The studies demonstrate numerous pathways are implicated in kidney injury secondary to cyclosporine and multiple proteins serve as potential targets for the development of a biomarker panel to detect nephrotoxicity.

Gentamicin

Aminoglycoside antibiotics induce AKI through tubular necrosis and an elevated trough plasma concentration (>2 mg/L) has been identified as a risk factor for nephrotoxicity. Studies have evaluated proteomic signatures in urine samples from rats exposed to gentamicin.^30–33 Rouse et al administered gentamicin 150 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg for 3 days to Sprague Dawley rats.³¹ While many proteins were found to be up-regulated by capillary electrophoresis (CE)-MS, osteopontin, albumin, and clusterin were consistently increased. Ferreira et al administered gentamicin 150 mg/kg to Wistar rats and evaluated urinary proteomics by LC-MS/MS at day 3.³⁰ Novel proteins that were up-regulated included gelsolin, regenerating islet-derived protein IIIβ, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). The study also reported elevations in N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), KIM-1, and NGAL. Vincente-Vincente et al performed a kidney injury sensitization study, whereby Sprague-Dawley rats first received uranyl nitrate for up to 21 weeks, with subsequent gentamicin 50 mg/kg/day treatment for 7 days.³² The rats pre-treated with 21 weeks of uranyl nitrate had robust kidney toxicity to gentamicin as assessed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-TOF proteomics. Albumin, hemopexin, transferrin, and vitamin D binding protein were all elevated in the urine under gentamicin treatment. Zhou et al evaluated KIM-1 in the urine and kidney of Sprague-Dawley rats 72 h after receiving gentamicin (up to 400 mg/kg for 3 days).³³ Urinary KIM-1 increased in a time- and dose-dependent manner and the trend was consistent with histopathology evaluations.

The utility of urinary biomarkers for gentamicin nephrotoxicity has recently been evaluated in higher level animals. Cynomolgus monkeys were treated with gentamicin 10 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg for 10 days, with urine assessed for targeted biomarkers (microalbumin, α-1 microglobulin, clusterin, osteopontin, KIM-1, NGAL) over 7 days by LC-MS/MS.³⁴ Urinary KIM-1 and NGAL did not strongly predict gentamicin toxicity. However, microalbumin, α-1 microglobulin, clusterin, and osteopontin were found to be more sensitive than BUN or SCr in detecting injury in the 10 mg/kg gentamicin group at day 11. The urinary biomarkers NGAL, clusterin, NAG, and total protein were evaluated by ELISA assays in beagle dogs receiving gentamicin 80 mg/kg for up to 9 days.³⁵ NGAL, clusterin, and NAG increased in a time-dependent manner after exposure to gentamicin and correlated with severity of histology. While NGAL and NAG showed increases at day 1, clusterin increases were not significant until day 3. These results in higher order animals suggest specific time-dependent increases in the evaluated proteins and demonstrate the utility of applying selective urinary biomarkers in studies assessing nephrotoxins in humans.

Two studies evaluated proteins in kidney tissue from rats treated with gentamicin.^36,37 Com et al administered gentamicin 25 mg/kg/day and 75 mg/kg/day to Wistar rats for up to 14 days.³⁶ The most significant changes in the kidney proteome as assessed by LC-MS/MS occurred with the high dose gentamicin (75 mg/kg/day). Down-regulated biomarkers of injury included plasma retinol binding protein 4, glycine amidinotransferase, and peroxiredoxin 1 (Table 1). Rat kidney tissue was evaluated by imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to evaluate the location of proteins that correlated with histopathology of nephrotoxicity after treatment with gentamicin 100 mg/kg/day for 7 days.³⁷ The study reported that transthyretin was highly correlated with histopathology in rats exhibiting nephrotoxicity. Additionally, transthyretin accumulated in the proximal tubules of the kidney cortex. Since transthyretin binds megalin at the proximal tubule, binding competition by gentamicin for megalin was proposed as a plausible hypothesis for a mechanism by which transthyretin could be elevated in kidney cortex under gentamicin nephrotoxicity.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used chronically in patients for musculoskeletal pain syndromes and headaches and nephrotoxicity results in AKI, interstitial nephritis, and glomerulonephritis. Two studies by the same authors reported proteomic evaluations of second morning urine samples from patients with medication-overuse headache who chronically used NSAIDs.^38,39 The methodologies from the studies differed, with the older study using 1-DE and QTOF-LC/MS and the newer study using 2-DE with surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI)-TOF-MS. In the first study,³⁸ seven proteins (including cystatin C) were found to be elevated in urine (Table 1). In the second study,³⁹ 21 differentially expressed proteins were reported, some of which are included in Table 1. While beta-2-microglobulin was included in second study, cystatin C was not found to be differentially expressed in this later analysis. Various cellular processes associated with the toxicity were identified through the proteomics approach and included apoptosis, cytoskeleton, transport, charge selective barrier, renal function and development. Given the high usage of NSAIDs in the general population, proteomic approaches to identify early nephrotoxicity may lead to interventions to prevent DIKD.

Summary

Proteomics is a promising tool for evaluating mechanisms of and biomarkers for DIKD. The studies summarized in this section demonstrate a multitude of potential novel biomarkers that hold promise for detecting kidney injury due to specific nephrotoxins. The majority of studies used in-vitro approaches or animals, with few human studies. The results suggest that future studies of specific biomarker panels for a particular nephrotoxin may be the best pathway forward to evaluating DIKD in humans in a sensitive, specific, and time-dependent manner.

Genomics

The genetic predisposition to DIKD may involve the interplay of genes encoding proteins for drug metabolism and transport, and pathways involved in kidney injury and/or cellular repair (Figure 1). This section reviews known genomic determinants of common nephrotoxins implicated in DIKD.

Figure 1 Figure depicts factors contributing to the development of kidney injury. Susceptibility of the kidney to toxic injury has been identified in polymorphisms of gap junction proteins and detoxification enzymes. Polymorphisms in drug metabolism or transport can lead to increased exposure of nephrotoxicants. Immune-mediated adverse effects from drugs may be related to genetic polymorphisms in human leukocyte antigens. Lastly, cellular repair mechanisms may be altered increasing the risk of apoptosis and tubular injury from nephrotoxicants.

Metabolism and Transport

Several studies have investigated the role of genetic alterations in drug metabolism and transport pathways on nephrotoxicity. Nephrotoxicity due to calcineurin inhibitors can lead to kidney injury in transplant recipients and limit kidney allograft survival. Kuypers and colleagues found that kidney transplant recipients who expressed of at least one CYP3A5*1 allele (intermediate metabolizer) in their blood had higher dose requirements and a significantly increased risk of biopsy-proven calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity (HR 2.39 [95% CI 1.15–4.92, p=0.01]).⁴⁰ Additionally, Joy and colleagues found that reduced CYP3A5 protein expression in kidney tissue of solid organ transplant recipients resulted in a higher rate of biopsy-confirmed nephrotoxicity.⁴¹

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an identified xenobiotic transporter responsible for efflux of calcineurin inhibitors from proximal tubule cells. Kidney donors with reduced P-gp expression have an increased risk of calcineurin inhibitor-associated nephrotoxicity (OR 9.2 [95% CI 1.1–79.4, p=0.03]).⁴² A previous study also documented reduced P-gp expression in the kidney tissue of solid organ transplant recipients with calcineurin nephrotoxicity.⁴³ Naesens and colleagues demonstrated that recipient-donor homozygosity for P-gp/ABCB1 variant C3435T resulted in reduced P-gp expression in both recipients and donors and was significantly associated with chronic damage.⁴⁴ In a study of approximately 4500 renal transplant recipients, homozygous variant donor genotype of the ABCB1 C3435T polymorphism (representing increased PGP expression in the kidney) was associated with lower rates of death-censored graft survival.⁴⁵ The authors postulated that increased P-gp expression may be promoting renal injury through anti-apoptotic effects in fibroblasts and cholesterol ester–mediated vascular damage.⁴⁵

Cisplatin has been shown to be transported into kidney proximal tubule cells by organic cation transporter 2 (SLC22A2, OCT2) and undergoes efflux by multidrug and toxin extrusion protein 1 and 2 (SLC47A1/MATE1 and SLC47A2/MATE2) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (ABCC2/MRP2).^46–48 Patients with a reduced function variant in SLC22A2 (G808T) have been shown to have lower risks of nephrotoxicity.^46,49 One previous study reported that MRP2 knockout confers increased risk for kidney injury with exposure to cisplatin.¹⁵ A recent study evaluated changes in glomerular filtration rate and urinary protein biomarkers by various polymorphisms in SLC22A2/OCT2, SLC31A1/CTR1, SLC47A1/MATE1, ABCC2/MRP2, and GSTP1 in cancer patients receiving cisplatin.⁵⁰ Several polymorphisms in uptake transporters, rs596881 (SLC22A2/OCT2), rs12686377, and rs7851395 (SLC31A1/CTR1), were associated with maintenance of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). While one previous study did not find associations between polymorphisms in SLC47A1 and nephrotoxicity in cancer patients receiving cisplatin,⁴⁹ a recent study reported associations between polymorphisms in SLC47A1/MATE1, as well as SLC22A2/OCT2, SLC31A1/CTRI, ABCC2/MRP2, and GSTP1 with increases in the urinary proteins KIM-1, TFF3, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1), NGAL, clusterin, cystatin C, and calbindin.⁵⁰ These data suggest the potential for genomics to predict both clinical and sub-clinical kidney injury in cancer patients receiving cisplatin.

Tenofovir is a nucleotide inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptases and used in the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Tenofovir is eliminated by the kidneys through glomerular filtration and tubular secretion. The drug has been associated with tubule injury resulting in Fanconi syndrome and diabetes insipidus. Tubular secretion of tenofovir involves the organic anion transporter 1 (SLC22A6/OAT1) for influx into proximal tubular cells and ABCC2/MRP2 and ABCC4/MRP4 transporters for efflux into the urinary ultrafiltrate. Studies have demonstrated that reduced efflux of tenofovir due to the ABCC2 G1249A polymorphism is associated with tubular injury (OR 6.11, 95% CI 1.2–31.15, p=0.02).⁵¹ Rodriguez-Novoa and colleagues demonstrated a significant association between another ABCC2 variant C-24C and tubular dysfunction.⁵² However, contrary to these two studies, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of approximately 500 tenofovir-treated patients failed to demonstrate the association of genetic polymorphisms with decline in kidney function over long-term exposures.⁵³

Kidney Injury

The mechanism for ifosfamide-induced kidney injury is thought to be related to intracellular glutathione depletion secondary to exposures from the chloroacetaldehyde metabolite. Glutathione s-transferase (GST) enzymes are Phase 2 detoxification enzymes, which catalyze the conjugation of glutathione to electrophiles. Zielinska and colleagues investigated the role of GST enzymes and nephrotoxicity in pediatric oncology patients receiving ifosfamide.⁵⁴ Children with polymorphic locus +313 A-G (+/Val) of the GSTP1 gene compared with homozygous GSTP1a alleles (Ile/Ile) had a decreased creatinine clearance (81.1 mL/min/1.73 m² vs 105.0 mL/min/1.73 m², p=0.03) with ifosfamide treatment.⁵⁴

Vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic used in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, undergoes predominant clearance through the kidney. Kidney injury from vancomycin manifests as acute tubular necrosis and/or immune-mediated acute interstitial nephritis. In a multi-center, observational cohort study, the incidence of vancomycin nephrotoxicity was found to be 19% in the entire cohort and 29.6% in patients with trough concentrations > 15 mg/L.⁵⁵ A GWAS of vancomycin associated AKI documented a significant association (p=1.1x10⁻⁷) with a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs2789047) on chromosome 6 in patients of Northern European ancestry.⁵⁶ This polymorphism was in the region of gene GJA1, which encodes for connexin43, a gap junction protein in renal tubules.⁵⁶ Gap junctions have been shown to contribute to tubular injury associated with aminoglycosides; however, their exact role in enhancing injury has not been fully elucidated and may include transporting toxicants to surrounding cells and transmitting damage signals.⁵⁷

Clofarabine undergoes significant renal filtration, with over 60% of administered drug excreted unchanged in the urine and causes kidney toxicity. Using human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293), Eadon and colleagues demonstrated that SET binding protein 1 (SETBP1) knockout increased HEK293 cell sensitivity to clofarabine toxicity.⁵⁸ While the role of SETBP1 binding to SET is unclear, SETBP1 variants have been implicated in the development of Schinzel-Giedion Syndrome with renal manifestations including hydronephrosis or calyceal hypertrophy.⁵⁹

Cellular Repair

Many older chemotherapeutic agents exhibit a mechanism of action by interrupting DNA synthesis and repair and subsequently leading to cell death. Cell cycle progression and arrest processes have been shown to mediate kidney recovery and fibrosis following injury.⁶⁰ Consequently, genetic alterations in cellular repair mechanisms may increase susceptibility to nephrotoxicity.

Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes have been associated with development of cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Excision repair cross-complementation (ERCC) genes regulate proteins required for repair of DNA damage caused by cisplatin. Patients who were heterozygous for ERCC1 C8092A and T19007C had increased risk of developing nephrotoxicity, OR 3.29 (95% CI 1.4–7.73, p=0.009) and OR 2.51 (95% CI 1.09–5.57, p=0.037), respectively.⁶¹ In patients with advanced gastric cancers, the ERCC2 haplotype Asn312/751 increased the risk of cisplatin nephrotoxicity (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.28–4.02, p=0.005).⁶² These polymorphisms likely represent suboptimal DNA repair capacity in response to cisplatin injury.

Summary

Studies to date have identified the contribution of genetic polymorphisms in drug metabolism and transport, injury, and detoxification pathways in addition to cell cycle repair to the development of AKI and DIKD. These preliminary genetic findings enhanced by transcriptomic and proteomic evaluations will improve our knowledge of the pathophysiology of AKI and DIKD and improve strategies to identify at-risk patients and treatment of this serious condition.

Transcriptomics

Transcriptional profiling has demonstrated molecular markers and potential regulatory pathways of kidney repair and progression that are altered and persist in AKI.^63,64 An understanding of transcriptome changes will help in the identification of biomarkers for detection of AKI and potentially novel therapeutics to mitigate this adverse effect of drug therapy. This section will review changes in mRNA and miRNA induced by exposures to known nephrotoxins. A summary of these changes are provided in Table 2 ^65–68 and 3.^69–78

Table 2 Genes Exhibiting ≥2-Fold Expression Changes in Acute Kidney Injury Models versus Respective Controls

Gene Title	Gene	Expression Changes in Drug-Induced AKI ^Citation68^–^Citation71
		Tissue	Blood
Lipocalin 2	Lcn2	↑
Clusterin	Sgp2	↑
Sialoprotein (osteopontin)	OPN	↑
Hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1	Havcr1	↑	N/A
Glycoprotein Nmb	Gpnmb	↑	N/A
RT1 class II, locus Bb	RT1-Bb	N/A	↑
Complement factor I	Cfi	↑	N/A
ISG15 ubiquitin-like modifier	Isg15	↑	N/A
C-X-C motif chemokine 10	Cxcl10	↑	N/A
Integrin alpha X	LOC499257	↓	N/A
Progestin and adipoQ receptor family member 9	Paqr9	N/A	↓
Antagonist of mitotic exit network 1 homolog	MGC105998	N/A	↓
ATPase Na+/K+ Transporting subunit beta 3	Atp1b3	N/A	↓
WD repeat domain, phosphoinositide interacting 1	Wipi1	N/A	↓
5ʹ-aminolevulinate synthase 2	Alas2	↓	N/A
Myeloperoxidase	Mpo	↑	↑
Secreted phosphoprotein I	Spp1	↑	↓
Tumor necrosis factor	Tnf	↑	↑
Glutathione S-transferase pi 1	Gstp1	↓	↓
Glutathione s transferase theta 1	Gstt1	↓	↓
Glutathione S-transferase pi 2	Gstp2	↑
Soluble epoxide Hydrolase 1	Ephx1	↑
Lysozyme	Lyz	↑
UDP glycosyltransferase 2	Utg2b	↑
Survival motor neuron	Smn1	↑
Guanidinoacetate methyltransferase	Gamt	↑
Urine retinol binding protein	Rbp4	↑
Aminopeptidase N	Apn	↑
Cytochrome P450	Cyp2d18	↑
Ornithine aminotransferase	Oat	↑
Matrix metalloproteinase-9	MMP6	↑
Vimentin	Vimentin	↑
Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A	Waf-1	↑
Thymosinβ-10	Tβ10	↑
Gap junctionβ-2	GJβ2	↑
Epidermal growth factor	EGF	↓
Organic anion transporter kidney-1	OATK1	↓

Table 3 Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) Evaluated in Acute Kidney Injury Studies with ≥2-Fold Expression Changes Compared to Controls in Tissue, Blood or Urine

miRNA	Expression Changes
miR-21^a,c	↑
miR-200c^c	↑
miR-423^c	↑
miR-15b^c	↑
miR-16^c	↑
miR-20a^c	↑
miR-20b^c	↑
miR-34a^c	↑
miR-141^c	↑
miR-146a^c	↑
miR-184^c	↓
miR-185c	↑
miR-192^c	↑
miR-193^c	↑
miR-196c_rno^c	↑
miR-200b^c	↑
miR-223^c	↑
miR-327_rno^c	↑
miR-339-3p_rno^c	↑
miR-335^c	↑
miR-378a-5p^c	↑
miR-183-5p^c	↑
miR-328a-3p^c	↑
miR-1839-5p^c	↑
miR-Let-7a-1-3p^c	↑
miR-93-5p^c	↑
miR-532-3p^c	↑
miR-192-5p^c	↑
miR-20b-5p^c	↑
miR-17-5p^c	↑
miR-140-3p^c	↑
miR-25-3p^c	↑
miR-340-5p^c	↑
miR-191a-5p^c	↑
miR-Let-7g-5p^c	↑
miR-193-5p^c	↑
miR-218-5p^c	↑
miR-7a-1-3p^c	↑
miR-130b-3p^c	↑
miR-30a-5p^c	↑
miR-26b-3p^c	↑
miR-744-5p^c	↑
miR-7a-1-3p^c	↑
miR-320-3p^c	↑
miR-122^a	↓
miR-10b^a	↓↑
miR-30e^a,b,c	↓
miR-26a^a	↓
miR-Let-7g^a	↑
miR-34c^b	↑
miR-378a^c	↑
miR-1839^c	↑
miR-140^c	↑
miR-26b^c	↑
miR-128^b	↑
miR-130b^b	↑
miR-1971^c	↑
miR-218-1-3p^c	↑
miR-138-5p^c	↑
miR-489^c	↑
miR-155^b	↓
miR-101-3p^b	↓
miR-127-3p^b	↓
miR-210-3p^b	↓
miR-126-3p^b	↓
miR-26b-5p^b	↓
miR-29a-3p^b	↓
miR-146a-5p^b	↓
miR-27a-3p^b	↓
miR-93-3p^b	↓
miR-10a-5p^b	↓
miR-30a^a,b	↑
miR-320^a,b	↑
miR-188^a,b	↑

Notes: ^atissue, ^bblood, ^curine. Data from references.^69–78

Acetaminophen

In a study of acetaminophen (APAP) overdose, AKI was detected in 43 out of 70 patients.⁷⁴ Urinary KIM-1, miR-21, miR-200c, and miR-423 were significantly increased in these patients who developed AKI compared to healthy volunteers⁷⁴ and higher urinary concentrations of each biomarker were associated with increased odds of AKI. Wolenski et al dosed male Sprague-Dawley rats with a single dose of APAP (400 or 1250 mg/kg) and found significant changes in 6 miRNAs in urine and 74 miRNAs in plasma 24 h later.⁷⁷

Antibiotics

Aminoglycosides can cause acute tubular necrosis, with higher risk of toxicity with longer duration of therapy, high trough concentrations, more frequent dosing and concurrent nephrotoxin exposures.⁷⁹ Qiu and colleagues conducted a time-series gene expression study after administering gentamicin to rats and confirming toxicity by measuring KIM-1 concentrations.⁸⁰ The authors found an increased expression of CXCL1 which encodes for chemokines and is involved in inflammation and as a chemoattractant for neutrophils.⁸⁰

Quantitative gene expression changes in kidney tissue of female cynomolgus monkeys after exposure to gentamicin (10 mg/kg), everninomicin (30 mg/kg or 60 mg/kg), or gentamicin (10 mg/kg) + everninomicin (30 mg/kg) for 1 or 7 days was evaluated by Davis et al.⁶⁷ Increased expression of MMP6 was observed irrespective of treatment and dose. Everninomicin and gentamicin + everninomicin-treated groups demonstrated significantly increased expression of MMP6, Vimentin, waf-1, Tβ10, and GJβ2) and decreased expression of EGF and OATK1.⁶⁷ Predictors of nephrotoxicity were defined as genes that showed significant expression changes before overt detection of injury as detected by histology. Clusterin and OPN were significantly increased on Day 1 in all groups [except gentamicin (10 mg/kg) and everninomicin (30 mg/kg)], and further increased expression was seen on Day 7.⁶⁷ This study suggests that clusterin and OPN expression may be predictive biomarkers of nephrotoxicity.

Female Sprague Dawley rats were administered nephrotoxicants [cyclophosphamide (70 mg/kg), amphotericin B (50 mg/kg), gentamicin (100 mg/kg), and cisplatin (2 mg/kg)] and gene expression changes in kidney and blood were evaluated.⁶⁶ All nephrotoxicants resulted in increased expression of Mpo, Spp1, and Tnf, and decreased expression of Gstp1 and Gstt1 in kidney tissue.⁶⁶ Mpo encodes for myeloperoxidase, which is a lysosomal enzyme involved in oxidative stress-mediated kidney injury. Spp1 encodes the glycoprotein osteopontin which acts as a proinflammatory cytokine and activator of T lymphocytes. Tumor necrosis factor cytokines are involved in inflammation and regulation of immune cells. Glutathione transferases play a role in detoxification by catalyzing the conjugation of many compounds with glutathione. In blood, Spp1 was decreased and Gstp1 did not correspond to expression in kidney tissue.⁶⁶ The study demonstrated the divergent gene expression patterns in kidney vs blood in animals exposed to nephrotoxicants and suggests that blood may not inform kidney injury for some potential transcriptomic biomarkers.

In collaboration with the European InnoMed PredTox project, transcriptomic data in kidney and blood of male Wister rats administered gentamicin (25 mg/kg/day to 75 mg/kg/day) for 1, 2, or 14 days were examined.³⁶ Kidney tissue demonstrated global expression of 463 genes at day 14 (303 upregulated and 160 downregulated) with high-dose gentamicin (75 mg/kg/day). In blood, 3241 genes were expressed (919 upregulated and 2322 downregulated) at 14 days with high-dose gentamicin (75 mg/kg/day). No significant gene expression changes in kidney tissue or blood were observed at earlier time points or with lower doses of gentamicin. Gene ontology mapped to biological processes demonstrated activation of NF-kB cascade, induction of protein synthesis, induction of RNA or protein catabolism, induction of inflammatory and immune response, mobilization of reproductive processes, activation of apoptosis, and mobilization of acetyl-CoA catabolic processes.³⁶ The results suggest there are dose- and time-dependent effects on gene expression as well as induction of inflammatory responses with gentamicin treatment.

A global miRNA expression analysis was performed in urine of male Wister rats treated with daily gentamicin exposure of 60 mg/kg (low-dose) or 120 mg/kg (high-dose) for 10 days.⁷⁸ High-dose gentamicin treatment resulted in significant changes in miRNAs with 34 increased and 88 decreased on day 4. With low-dose gentamicin, 14 miRNAs were increased and 66 miRNAs were decreased. A total of 64 miRNAs overlapped between the low-dose and high-dose gentamicin groups.⁷⁸ Of the miRNAs screened, 13 were identified as biomarker candidates based on time- and dose-dependent increases (Table 2). Analyses demonstrated that miR-140-3p (AUC = 0.964) and miR-138-5p (AUC = 0.946) had high accuracy and sensitivity and were superior to BUN as demonstrated by ROC.⁷⁸ These miRNAs offer the potential to serve as biomarkers for detection of DIKD from gentamicin.

Saikumar et al performed global miRNA expression profiling in male Sprague Dawley rats that received high doses of gentamicin (200 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg) for 3 days.⁷⁵ Upregulation of miR-21 was demonstrated in kidney tissue with 300 mg/kg gentamicin. While miR-155 expression was not dose dependent, it was higher in the kidney cortex versus medulla. miR-18a did not show significant changes with gentamicin doses or differences between the cortex and medulla locations.⁷⁵ miR-21 was significantly decreased in the blood, whereas, only a modest decrease in blood was observed for miR-155 and miR-18a.⁷⁵ Both miR-21 and miR-155 were significantly decreased in the urine, while miR-18a was undetectable.⁷⁵ These results suggest a discrepancy between miRNA expression patterns in kidney tissue versus urine and suggest that kidney tissue is best for assessment of miRNAs for kidney injury. These data suggest that urinary data likely lags behind events and expression in tissues.

Colistin is an antibiotic used to treat gram negative infections. Eadon and colleagues used a murine model of colistin nephrotoxicity to identify differentially expressed transcripts in kidney tissue.⁸¹ Colistin induced kidney damage resulted in increased expression of LGALS3 (galectin-3), CCNB-1 (cyclin-B1), CDKN1a (p21).⁸¹ Galectin-3 is a lectin involved in cell cycle regulation that contributes to regulation of both the G1 to S and G2 to M cell cycle checkpoints via activation of p21. CCNB-1 and CDKN1a genes encode for the cell cycle markers cyclin-B1 and p21, respectively, with CDKN1a arresting progression of the cell cycle from G2 to M phase.⁸¹ Cell cycle arrest appears to be a predominant mechanism allowing cells to repair after injury from colistin.

Cisplatin

Changes in kidney expression of genes were evaluated in male Sprague Dawley rats administered a single dose of cisplatin (0.1 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg).⁶⁵ At 24 h and 144 h, high doses of cisplatin (5 mg/kg) were associated with severe proximal tubule toxicity. Hierarchical clustering was performed and revealed two distinct separations that correlated with severity of toxicity. Cisplatin treatment induced a ≥2-fold increase in Sgp2 and osteopontin (OPN),⁶⁵ both associated with clearance of cellular debris, apoptosis, and inflammatory processes.

Pavkovic et al measured miRNA biomarkers in the urine of male Han Wister rats 3 days prior to and 3, 5, 8, 15, and 28 days after a single injection of 1 mg/kg or 3 mg/kg cisplatin.⁷³ Maximal changes in miRNA expression (≥2-fold) were detected at 5 days after cisplatin, with levels declining towards baseline by 26 days. Of the 136 miRNAs detected, 18 were chosen as candidate biomarkers for nephrotoxicity (Table 2). Fourteen of the selected miRNAs demonstrated increased expression at 3 days and maximal expression at 5 days after cisplatin 3 mg/kg.⁷³ A statistically significant increase in 4 miRNAs (miR-15, miR-16, miR-20a, and miR-192) was also noted in the 1 mg/kg cisplatin dose group at 5 days.⁷³ ROC analyses demonstrated that miR-192 most strongly predicted proximal tubular necrosis after cisplatin exposure (AUC = 0.9203). The 18 candidate miRNAs were also analyzed in kidney tissue. The miRNAs were modestly decreased, with the exception of miR-34a, miR-184, miR-21, and miR-327. Gene expression profiling demonstrated peak increases (162 genes) and decreases (112 genes) in mRNA expression at 8 days after cisplatin. mRNA expression patterns were similar across cisplatin doses, but with smaller fold-changes for the 1 mg/kg dose. Functionally, the genes that were upregulated encoded proteins related to DNA damage response, apoptosis, cell cycle, stress response, and regeneration.⁷³ The mRNAs that were decreased were related to kidney function. Additional analyses revealed that 21 mRNAS were regulated by 11 miRNAs. The pathways affected included p53 and PI3K/AKT.⁷³

Kanki et al collected urine and kidney 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after a single injection of 1, 3, 6 mg/kg cisplatin to male Sprague Dawley rats for the identification of miRNA biomarkers.⁷¹ There were 322 miRNAs detected in urine, with 30 chosen for further analysis based on ≥2-fold changes. Two of the miRNAs (miR-196c-5p and miR-1959) were decreased more than 2-fold.⁷¹ Increased expression of miRNAs in urine was associated with decreased expression in the kidney. The expression of miRNAs peaked at day 5 and decreased by day 7. No changes in miRNA expression were observed at the 1 mg/kg dose, whereas 8 miRNAs showed a dose-dependent increase with exposure to 3 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg cisplatin doses.⁷¹

miRNA and/or mRNA expression in kidney tissue was evaluated in C57BL/6 mice administered a single injection of cisplatin (15 mg/kg).⁷² Seven miRNAs demonstrated significant changes in expression after cisplatin treatment, with two upregulated (miR-34a and miRlet-7g) and five downregulated (miR-122, miR-10b, miR30e, miR193, miR-26a).⁷² Time course studies revealed a downregulation of miR-122 on day 1 after cisplatin treatment, with expression remaining low until day 3, with a modest increase at day 5. In contrast, miR-34a was significantly increased at day 3, with further induction at day 5. miR-34a and miR-122 can inhibit Foxo3 translation, a protein found in the p53 pathway.⁷² Thirty-six mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed by cisplatin treatment. These results suggest that miRNAs play a crucial role in renal injury through regulation of gene transcripts and later through protein translation.

Wolenski et al dosed male Sprague-Dawley rats with a single dose of 2 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg cisplatin and changes in miRNA expression in urine, plasma, and kidney tissue were assessed.⁷⁷ There were 832 miRNAs detected in all samples. At 72 h post-cisplatin, there were significant changes in 6 miRNAs in urine, 14 in plasma, and 5 in kidney tissue. Of the miRNAs elevated in the urine, 5 of them (miR-378a, miR-140, miR-26b, miR-1839, and miRlet-7g) were validated in a second rat model of cisplatin toxicity. A 6-fold elevation of urinary miR-378a was observed and increased expression of miR-34a in kidney tissue was consistent with previous studies. A total of 4 miRs (miR-34c, miR-128, miR-34a, and miR-130b) had ≥2-fold expression changes in the plasma 72 h post-cisplatin administration.⁷⁷ From these data, miR-34a was the only miRNA that was significantly changed in both kidney tissue and plasma, but not in urine.

A recently published study evaluated the potential of miRNA biomarkers for predicting cisplatin nephrotoxicity in humans as assessed by KIM-1.⁷⁴ The authors reported significantly increased miR-21, miR-200c, and miR-423 after cisplatin treatment as compared to baseline. However, urinary miRNA concentrations were not associated with increased odds of AKI development. These data suggest that urinary KIM-1 and miRNAs can be non-invasive methods for the detection of cisplatin-induced AKI in cancer patients.⁷⁴

Summary

DIKD is associated with changes in the expression of mRNAs and miRNAs that may contribute to the pathogenesis or progression of the disease or may serve protective roles. The expression of the transcriptome can be modulated by many different pathways including transcriptional initiation, RNA processing, and post-translational modification, all of which can initiate changes in expression (including upregulation and downregulation) of genes involved in DIKD pathological or recovery processes. miRNAs contribute to DIKD by changing expression of downstream target genes which may afford renoprotection or contribute to the disease process. Understanding the interplay between transcriptomic and miRNA changes can potentially facilitate early diagnosis, enable the development of novel therapeutics, and assess prognosis in patients with DIKD.

Metabolomics

Metabolomics allows for rapid and reproducible analyses that are directly reflective of biological events and require limited sample material such as plasma and urine.⁸² Metabolomic biomarkers have the potential to detect early DIKD. Metabolomic changes in urine and kidney tissue of rats were evaluated after treatment with known proximal tubule nephrotoxins including cisplatin, gentamicin, and tobramycin.⁸³ Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with gentamicin 40 mg/kg, cisplatin 0.5 mg/kg, or tobramycin 40 mg/kg. Urine and kidney samples were collected at 1, 5, and 28 days after dosing. GC/MS and LC/MS detected 547 metabolites in kidney tissue and 657 metabolites in urine.⁸³ It was observed that the majority of metabolites increased in urine with drug exposures, while the majority of the metabolites decreased in kidney tissue after drug exposures. A finding of particular interest was the increase in excretion of several polyamines including cadaverine, putrescine, agmatine, and spermidine, which were found to be most pronounced on day 1 after drug exposures with reported fold changes of 1.86, 2.4, 4.37, and 2.35, respectively, for the previous polyamines (Table 4). Excretion of polyamines in urine may be of interest as a metabolic biomarker for detection of early nephrotoxicity due to gentamicin, cisplatin, and/or tobramycin.⁸³

Table 4 Summary of Selected Metabolite Biomarkers in Urine and Kidney in Nephrotoxicity Models. Metabolites in Urine and Kidney Showed a Day 1 Response in the Three Nephrotoxicity Models in Terms of Fold Change in Comparison to the Vehicle Sample Through GC-MS (GC) or LC-MS (LC) Analysis⁸³

Sample	Pathway	Lib ID	Metabolite	Fold Change at Days 1, 5, and 28
				Gentamicin			Cisplatin			Tobramycin
				1	5	28	1	5	28	1	5	28
Urine	Amino Acid	GC	Serine	3.76	11.8	2.83	2.11	4.95	5.54	12.2	15.2	5.78
Urine	Amino Acid	GC	Threonine	2.9	3.15	1.24	3.53	4.15	6.15	5.8	3.74	1.03
Urine	Amino Acid	GC	Glutamine	3.98	3.61	2.04	2.52	3.44	16.2	9.91	6.94	2.62
Urine	Amino Acid	GC	Histidine	1.82	1.7	1.3	1.6	1.91	5.06	2.26	1.98	1.92
Urine	Amino Acid	GC	Lysine	1.57	1.87	1.95	1.49	2.85	10.6	3.11	3.88	1.36
Urine	Amino Acid	GC	Cadaverine	1.86	1	1.54	1.64	0.96	0.71	1.87	0.9	0.89
Urine	Amino Acid	GC	Putrescine	2.3	0.69	0.61	2.68	1.96	0.92	2.15	1.38	1.05
Urine	Amino Acid	LC	Agmatine	4.37	0.62	0.46	1.52	3.19	2.5	1.23	1.61	0.52
Urine	Amino Acid	GC	Spermidine	2.42	1.3	0.97	1.92	2.74	4.23	1.21	1.46	2.33
Urine	Peptide	GC	Glycylproline	2.35	1.76	0.68	3.26	3.26	1.09	2.44	2.54	1.1
Urine	Carbohydrate	GC	Glucosamine	2.58	2.23	1.01	1.95	2.52	0.99	1.96	2.64	1.32
Urine	Carbohydrate	GC	1,5-anhydro-glucitol	3.37	1.64	0.9	2.1	4.6	10.4	4.46	2.93	2.35
Urine	Lipid	GC	Monoethanolamine	2.02	3.83	0.97	3.62	5.92	2.92	3.35	6.57	1.21
Urine	Energy	GC	Phosphate	3.3	1.06	0.44	3.81	2.74	3.16	2.89	1.9	0.82
Kidney Tissue	Carbohydrate	GC	Sorbitol (glucitol)	6.86	6.7	0.31	2.89	3.91	0.25	3.08	0.8	0.56
Kidney Tissue	Carbohydrate	GC	Glucose	1.16	1.14	0.67	1.2	0.92	0.9	1.25	1	1.07
Kidney Tissue	Cofactors and vitamins	LC	5-methyltetra-hydrofolate (5MeTHF)	0.3	0.32	0.89	0.54	0.43	0.52	0.56	0.55	1.17

Note: Republished with permission of Sage Publications Inc., from Boudonck KJ, Mitchell MW, Nemet L, et al. Discovery of metabolomics biomarkers for early detection of nephrotoxicity. Toxicol Pathol. 2009;37(3):280–292.⁸³

Cisplatin

The effects of dose and time-dependent changes on metabolite levels and nephrotoxicity after exposure to cisplatin were evaluated using MS-based metabolomics integrated with principle component-based area calculation.⁸⁴ In this study, cisplatin was administered to Sprague-Dawley rats in low-dose (LD) 2.5 mg/kg, middle-dose (MD) 5.0 mg/kg, and high-dose (HD) 10 mg/kg, and samples were collected for 7 days. A control group received saline. Significant differences (p < 0.0001) in BUN and SCr were observed between the control and MD groups at days 3 and 5 and between the control and HD groups at days 3, 5, and 7. The LD group showed no difference in BUN and SCr when compared to the control group. Moderate histological damage was observed in the MD group, while the HD group exhibited more severe histological damage.⁸⁴ Based on GC-MS and LC-MS data, fold-change area under the curve (FC_AUC) was calculated for each group to quantitate trends in metabolic changes, with absolute values >1.50 deemed to be significant.⁸⁴ LD did not result in any significant metabolic changes. MD was found to have induced significant metabolic changes at day 5 with an FC_AUC of −1.94 and −1.82 for GC-MS and LC-MS data, respectively, and a time-dependent effect was observed, with FC_AUC values decreasing over time to −2.27 for GC-MS and −2.03 for LC-MS at day 7.⁸⁴ The HD group saw an even greater decrease in FC_AUC values (−2.44 for GC-MS and −2.69 for LC-MS at day 5 to −3.72 for GC-MS and −3.50 for LC-MS at day 7), indicating even more significant metabolic changes.⁸⁴ LC-MS was found to have a higher sensitivity than GC-MS for detecting metabolites, with MD and HD groups having significant FC_AUC values at day 3 (−1.57 and −1.83, respectively), where significant metabolic change occurred at day 5.⁸⁴ This study not only identified potential metabolic biomarkers, but it also reported a high sensitivity method for quantitatively analyzing metabolic changes to reveal dose- and time-dependent-induced nephrotoxicity secondary to cisplatin.

Gentamicin

In the human neonatal population, sensitivity and specificity limitations for detection of kidney injury using SCr and BUN are complicated by initial postnatal SCr reflecting the maternal values. Additionally, changes in creatinine clearance occur as growth and renal development ensues.⁸⁵ As a result, kidney injury in newborns often goes undetected until a substantial reduction in function occurs, signifying the need for early, sensitive, and specific biomarkers.⁸⁶ Rat kidneys continue to develop until approximately 3 weeks after birth, similar to the pattern of postnatal renal development that occurs in human preterm neonates.⁸⁷ In the study by Hanna et al, newborn Sprague Dawley rats were treated for 7 days with gentamicin, receiving either a low dose (10 mg/kg/day) or high dose (20 mg/kg/day),⁸⁵ corresponding to two and four times the recommended dose for human newborn infants. BUN and SCr did not exhibit a significant change in either treatment group 3 days after injection, but a significant increase was seen in both treatment groups 7 days after injection (p < 0.05). Histopathology of kidneys 7 days after low-dose injection showed minimal focal tubular necrosis. High-dose treatment showed more distinguishable changes, which included proximal convoluted tubules with loss of brush border on the surface, damaged mitochondria, and tubular casts.⁸⁵ Altered metabolite levels, as measured by GC/MS and HPLC/MS were observed at days 3 and 7 for both dosing groups.⁸⁵ Multivariate data analysis found 10 metabolites that contributed to significant perturbations of kidney injury by gentamicin (Table 5). Significant changes in the abundance of metabolites after treatment with gentamicin suggest that several biochemical metabolic pathways are altered and these could serve as superior biomarkers to BUN and SCr for detection of kidney injury in the neonatal population.⁸⁵

Table 5 Metabolite Changes in Urine After Low or High Dose of Gentamicin. Metabolites Identified in Urine After Treatment with a Low or High Dose of Gentamicin in Comparison to the Control Group That Showed Significant Fold Changes (p < 0.05) and Showed Good Fitness and High Predictability with High Statistical Values of R² and Q², Respectively, Through PLS-DA Analysis.⁸⁵

Metabolite	Pathway	Fold Change
		Low Dose Gentamicin 10 mg/kg/day		High Dose Gentamicin 20 mg/kg/day
		3 day	7 day	3 day	7 day
Glucose	Carbohydrate	3.15	2.74	3.12	3.88
N-acetylglucosamine	Carbohydrate	3.5	2.13	2.92	3.45
Glutamine	Amino Acid	2.38	2.22	3.1	3.35
Glycine	Amino Acid	2.24	2.54	2.42	2.71
Alanine	Amino Acid	2.73	2.2	2.92	3.35
Myo-inositol	Lipid	3.24	4.03	2.17	3.25
Succinate	Organic Acid	0.18	0.4	0.36	0.35
Isocitric acid	Organic Acid	2.02	2.49	3.1	1.9
Uridine	Nucleotide	2.35	3.31	2.1	1.7
Phosphate	Energy	2.93	4.67	3.23	4.95

Note: Reprint with permission from Hanna MH, Segar JL, Teesch LM, Kasper DC, Schaefer FS, Brophy PD. Urinary metabolomic markers of aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity in newborn rats. Pediatr Res. 2013;73(5):585–591.⁸⁵

Bioinformatics in Combination with Metabolomics

A large reference database of metabolic profiles was compared to the metabolic profiles obtained from animals treated with nephrotoxic compounds as a potential method to predict toxic events post exposures.⁸⁸ This method could be of particular importance to drug development, as 30% of new drug candidates are halted in development because of toxicity profiles and side effects in clinical studies.⁸⁹ In this study, Wistar rats were treated for 28 days with either a low dose or high dose, respectively, of phenytoin (600 ppm/day or 2400 ppm/day; negative control), doxorubicin (0.5 mg/kg or 2 mg/kg biweekly), cyclosporin A (20 mg/kg or 45 mg/kg biweekly), lisinopril (40 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg biweekly) or captopril (20 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg biweekly). Blood samples were obtained at 7, 14, and 28 days post-treatment, and metabolite profiling analysis of the samples was performed by GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, and solid phase extraction (SPE)-LC-MS/MS. The MetaMap Tox system analyzes metabolite profiles based on the strength of the change and the biochemical importance for a certain mode of action.⁸⁸ This study found that metabolite profile analysis with the MetaMap Tox system was successfully able to predict nephrotoxicity to treatments known to induce this adverse event, whereas nephrotoxicity was not predicted with negative controls.⁸⁸ Incorporating metabolomics database like MetaMap Tox into the drug development process can be a useful tool providing the ability of identifying toxicities, including nephrotoxicity, in response to drug treatments. The prospect of identifying potential nephrotoxicity prior to starting clinical studies would be highly beneficial to human patients and would significantly decrease drug development costs.

Summary

Metabolomics has good potential for the early and sensitive detection of DIKD. Ability to detect DIKD through metabolic profiles would aid in early interventions including removal of offending agents, reduction in dosages, treatment changes, and mitigation therapies. Understanding the patterns of metabolic changes associated with DIKD would also contribute to drug safety in preclinical and clinical drug development.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work.