Title:Biomarkers for Diabetic Nephropathy with a Focus on Kidney Injury
Molecule-1 (KIM-1)
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
Author(s): Fatemeh Khonsha, Mohammad Valilo, Hamid-Reza Nejabati, Mohammad Rahmati-Yamchi and Ali Mota*
Affiliation:
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Biochemistry and
Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Keywords:
Diabetes, nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, kidney injury molecule-1.
Abstract: Diabetic Nephropathy (DN), with an increasing rate of mortality and morbidity, is considered
the main cause of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). A wide spectrum of biomarkers exist
for early detection of DN, but they suffer from low specificity and sensitivity, indicating the urgent
demand for finding more effective biomarkers. Also, the pathophysiology of tubular damage and
its relation to DN are not yet completely understood. Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) is a protein
that is expressed at substantially low contents in the kidney under physiological conditions. A
number of reports have demonstrated the close relationship between urine and tissue KIM-1 levels
and kidney disorders. KIM-1 is known as a biomarker for diabetic nephropathy and renal injury. In
this study, we aim to review the potential clinical and pathological roles of KIM-1 in diabetic
nephropathy.