We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Powerful Imaging Technology for Examining Kidneys of Lupus Patients Could Eliminate Renal Biopsies

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 18 Aug 2023

Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) is a serious autoimmune disease that has the potential to affect various organs and even result in death. More...

A particularly severe complication of lupus is lupus nephritis (LN), which is a severe inflammation of the kidneys. This condition can be fatal, as it is a leading cause of death among lupus patients. Between 5% and 20% of the 60% of SLE patients who develop renal symptoms will progress to end-stage kidney disease within a decade. The current standard method for diagnosing LN is through a renal biopsy, a painful procedure involving the extraction and examination of kidney tissues. Unfortunately, this method has significant drawbacks, including low agreement among pathologists in determining classes and pathology indices. This inconsistency can result in misclassification of LN, leading to incorrect treatment and poor patient outcomes. Furthermore, renal biopsies only yield limited tissue samples, restricting the type and scope of analysis performed on a sample.

A promising breakthrough has emerged from researchers at the University of Houston (Houston, TX, USA), who have pioneered the use of imaging mass cytometry (IMC) to study the kidneys of SLE patients and diagnose LN. IMC offers substantial advantages over traditional methods, providing a much more comprehensive analysis of the affected tissue. Unlike conventional approaches that examine only 1-3 distinct proteins within a specific tissue, IMC can detect the presence of up to 37 different proteins simultaneously. The use of IMC is often combined with machine learning algorithms to characterize the cellular composition of the human kidney, differentiate cell types, and identify novel markers for disease.

One of the major benefits of IMC is its ability to precisely pinpoint locations of tissues for more detailed investigation. During a study involving 21 patients, researchers utilizing IMC discovered both increased and decreased disease markers indicative of renal disease. Additionally, they found that glomeruli (an intricate network of blood vessels serving as the kidneys' cleaning system) might be enlarged in some LN patients.

“Decreased expression of epithelial markers along with an increased expression of mesenchymal markers, also termed epithelial to mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) have been reported in kidney biopsies from patients with renal diseases, including LN,” said Chandra Mohan, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Endowed Professor of biomedical engineering. “It is very likely that the parietal epithelial cells encircling the glomeruli may be an additional site of EMP in proliferative LN, though this needs to be verified using additional markers. EMP could certainly affect additional cells in LN kidneys, but this needs to be systematically investigated.”

Related Links:
University of Houston 


New
Gold Member
Serological Pipets
INTEGRA Serological Pipets
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Silver Member
Quality Control Material
NATtrol Chlamydia trachomatis Positive Control
New
Silver Member
Autoimmune Hepatitis Test
LKM-1-Ab ELISA
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.