Identifying different types of nephrotic syndrome using blood cell DNA

Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney condition that causes large amounts of protein to leak into the urine. It can affect both children and adults. It can lead to kidney failure and a lifelong need for dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant. For some people, nephrotic syndrome can return in the kidney transplant.  

Nephrotic syndrome can be caused by a range of problems with the kidney’s filtering system. Research suggests that there are different types of nephrotic syndrome and each responds differently to the available treatment options.  

Project aims

Some patients with nephrotic syndrome, particularly children and young people, respond to treatments and transplants in particular ways. If we can understand the types of nephrotic syndrome a patient has, this could lead to more personalised treatment.

We wanted to find the blood cell DNA signatures of the different types of nephrotic syndrome.

What we did and what we found

We used blood samples from large, long-term research studies of people with nephrotic syndrome. We made sure we used cohorts that included people with a range of ancestries, so we could be sure our findings apply to different ethnic groups.

From these blood samples, we generated the world’s largest and most comprehensive DNA signature datasets in nephrotic syndrome. This will be available to others through the National Unified Renal Translational Research Enterprise (NURTuRE) consortium.

Through analysing our dataset, we found potential DNA signatures for the different types of nephrotic syndromes.

What next?

We are validating our findings in a cohort of nephrotic syndrome patients.

What we hope to achieve

This work could shed light on how nephrotic syndrome develops, leading to new treatments.

Ultimately, we want to improve nephrotic syndrome treatment by identifying which subtype a person has, allowing treatment to be tailored to the patient.