Biomarkers for renal disease in childhood.

A kidney biopsy is currently required to diagnose lupus nephritis (LN). Invasiveness related to kidney biopsies, however, makes it a prohibitive approach in daily clinical practice for the assessment of LN-related activity and damage. The lack of accurate LN biomarkers inhibits effective testing of new, less toxic medications. Research in LN biomarkers involves two principal methods: 1) the candidate biomarker approach that tests molecules known to be involved in LN pathogenesis, and 2) broad-based biomarker-screening techniques. These methods suggest that the following may all be potent LN biomarkers: CCL2 (chemokine ligand 2; also known as MCP-1 ); CCL5 (chemokine ligand 5; also known as RANTES ); and CX3CL1 (chemokine ligand 1; also known as fractalkine); IP-10 (interferon-inducible protein 10; also known as chemokine ligand 10); neutrophil gelatinase associate lipocalin; hepcidin; adiponectin; transferrin; ceruloplasmin; lipocalin-like prostaglandin synthetase-D; and orosomucoid.