Protein-bound uremic toxin clearance as biomarker of kidney tubular function in diabetic kidney disease

Abstract Kidney tubular damage is an important prognostic determinant in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). A vital homeostatic function of the proximal tubule is active tubular secretion of waste products via organic anion transporters (OATs), including protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs) that accumula...

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Main Authors: Sabbir Ahmed, Rolf W. Sparidans, Robin W. M. Vernooij, Silvia M. Mihaila, Roel Broekhuizen, Roel Goldschmeding, Tri Q. Nguyen, Rosalinde Masereeuw, Karin G. F. Gerritsen
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Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07248-3
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author Sabbir Ahmed
Rolf W. Sparidans
Robin W. M. Vernooij
Silvia M. Mihaila
Roel Broekhuizen
Roel Goldschmeding
Tri Q. Nguyen
Rosalinde Masereeuw
Karin G. F. Gerritsen
author_facet Sabbir Ahmed
Rolf W. Sparidans
Robin W. M. Vernooij
Silvia M. Mihaila
Roel Broekhuizen
Roel Goldschmeding
Tri Q. Nguyen
Rosalinde Masereeuw
Karin G. F. Gerritsen
author_sort Sabbir Ahmed
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Kidney tubular damage is an important prognostic determinant in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). A vital homeostatic function of the proximal tubule is active tubular secretion of waste products via organic anion transporters (OATs), including protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs) that accumulate in plasma in tubular dysfunction. We here hypothesize that PBUT clearance may be a sensitive tubular function marker, and tested this in a DKD mouse model and in type 2 diabetic patients. Among the PBUTs with the highest OAT affinity (i.e., indoxyl sulfate (IS), hippuric acid (HA) and kynurenic acid (KA)), plasma concentrations were higher and urinary excretions were lower 6 and 8 months after DKD induction in mice. These parameters correlated better with tubular atrophy, f4/80 scores and tubular injury markers than conventional filtration markers. In patients, the clearance of IS, HA, KA and p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) was associated with urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), independent of eGFR. In multiple regression analysis, additionally adjusted for relevant risk factors for tubular injury, the clearance of IS, HA and PCS remained significantly associated with urinary NGAL. In conclusion, IS, HA, KA and PCS clearance may represent a biomarker of kidney tubular function in DKD.
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spelling doaj-art-948ca5996dca4cf29d3b367933f809382025-08-20T03:45:30ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-07248-3Protein-bound uremic toxin clearance as biomarker of kidney tubular function in diabetic kidney diseaseSabbir Ahmed0Rolf W. Sparidans1Robin W. M. Vernooij2Silvia M. Mihaila3Roel Broekhuizen4Roel Goldschmeding5Tri Q. Nguyen6Rosalinde Masereeuw7Karin G. F. Gerritsen8Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Pathology, University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of Pathology, University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of Pathology, University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center UtrechtAbstract Kidney tubular damage is an important prognostic determinant in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). A vital homeostatic function of the proximal tubule is active tubular secretion of waste products via organic anion transporters (OATs), including protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs) that accumulate in plasma in tubular dysfunction. We here hypothesize that PBUT clearance may be a sensitive tubular function marker, and tested this in a DKD mouse model and in type 2 diabetic patients. Among the PBUTs with the highest OAT affinity (i.e., indoxyl sulfate (IS), hippuric acid (HA) and kynurenic acid (KA)), plasma concentrations were higher and urinary excretions were lower 6 and 8 months after DKD induction in mice. These parameters correlated better with tubular atrophy, f4/80 scores and tubular injury markers than conventional filtration markers. In patients, the clearance of IS, HA, KA and p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) was associated with urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), independent of eGFR. In multiple regression analysis, additionally adjusted for relevant risk factors for tubular injury, the clearance of IS, HA and PCS remained significantly associated with urinary NGAL. In conclusion, IS, HA, KA and PCS clearance may represent a biomarker of kidney tubular function in DKD.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07248-3Diabetic kidney diseaseTubular function markerProtein-bound uremic toxinsIndoxyl sulfateHippuric acid
spellingShingle Sabbir Ahmed
Rolf W. Sparidans
Robin W. M. Vernooij
Silvia M. Mihaila
Roel Broekhuizen
Roel Goldschmeding
Tri Q. Nguyen
Rosalinde Masereeuw
Karin G. F. Gerritsen
Protein-bound uremic toxin clearance as biomarker of kidney tubular function in diabetic kidney disease
Scientific Reports
Diabetic kidney disease
Tubular function marker
Protein-bound uremic toxins
Indoxyl sulfate
Hippuric acid
title Protein-bound uremic toxin clearance as biomarker of kidney tubular function in diabetic kidney disease
title_full Protein-bound uremic toxin clearance as biomarker of kidney tubular function in diabetic kidney disease
title_fullStr Protein-bound uremic toxin clearance as biomarker of kidney tubular function in diabetic kidney disease
title_full_unstemmed Protein-bound uremic toxin clearance as biomarker of kidney tubular function in diabetic kidney disease
title_short Protein-bound uremic toxin clearance as biomarker of kidney tubular function in diabetic kidney disease
title_sort protein bound uremic toxin clearance as biomarker of kidney tubular function in diabetic kidney disease
topic Diabetic kidney disease
Tubular function marker
Protein-bound uremic toxins
Indoxyl sulfate
Hippuric acid
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07248-3
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