Immuno-unreactive albumin excretion increases in streptozotocin diabetic rats

A Passive Mixing Microfluidic Urinary Albumin Chip for Chronic Kidney Disease Assessment

Urinary albumin level is an important indicator of kidney damage in chronic kidney disease (CKD) but effective routine albumin detection tools are lacking. In this paper, we developed a low-cost and high accuracy microfluidic urinary albumin chip (UAL-Chip) to rapidly measure albumin in urine. The UAL-Chip offers three major features: (1) we incorporated a fluorescent reaction assay into the chip to improve the detection accuracy; (2) we constructed a passive and continuous mixing module in the chip that provides user-friendly operation and greater signal stability; (3) we applied a pressure-balancing strategy based on the immiscible oil coverage that achieves precise control of the sample-dye mixing ratio. We validated the UAL-Chip using both albumin standards and urine samples from 12 CKD patients and achieved an estimated limit of detection (LOD) of 5.2 μg/mL. The albumin levels in CKD patients' urine samples measured by UAL-Chip is consistent with the traditional well-plate measurements and clinical results. We foresee the potential of extending this passive and precise mixing platform to assess various disease biomarkers.

Immunochemically unreactive albumin in urine: fiction or reality?

Urinary albumin measurements are currently not standardized due to a lack of a reference method and reference (primary and secondary [matrix]) material. Multiple molecular forms of albumin in urine are identified. Modification of albumin by proteolysis during passage through the urinary tract and chemical modification during specimen storage leads to the formation of albumin fragments. Multiple methods have been developed to quantify albuminuria and significant different results are reported dependent on the available assay. The current point of view of the National Kidney Disease Education Program - IFCC Working Group on Standardization of Albumin considers the immunoassay with polyclonal sera as the primary method of quantifying urine albumin. This article reviews the process of albumin fragmentation and focuses on the controversial topic of immuno-unreactive, nonimmunoreactive, or immunochemically nonreactive albumin fractions and its consequences for albumin analysis. We conclude that at present there are no hard arguments for measuring immunochemically unreactive albumin in urine. Immunoassays using polyclonal antisera for the detection of urinary albumin remain the gold standard. The development of a reference measurement procedure remains one of the challenges for the future.

Clinical implications of the early detection of urinary microalbumin in diabetic patients using a new high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method

We assessed urine albumin in 180 diabetics by conventional immunonephelometry (IN) and HPLC methods. Those with HPLC but not IN detectable albuminuria had higher BP, worse glycaemic control and more vascular events (p<0.05 for all) but received fewer vascular risk reduction treatments.

Microalbuminuria, indicated by total versus immunoreactive urinary albumins, in acute ischemic stroke patients

Microalbuminuria, assessed by measuring immunoreactive albumin, is common in patients with cerebrovascular disease and is associated with increased risk of stroke. Total urinary albumin (t-uAlb) comprises both immunoreactive albumin (ir-uAlb) and nonimmunoreactive albumin (nir-uAlb). We hypothesized that t-uAlb is a more sensitive indicator of microalbuminuria than ir-uAlb, and that measurement of t-uAlb will increase the prevalence of microalbuminuria in ischemic stroke patients compared with measurement of ir-uAlb and will show a stronger correlation with the severity of stroke and oxidative stress. In urine samples from 98 patients with ischemic stroke, the albumin-to-creatinine ratios t-uAlb/uCreat and ir-uAlb/uCreat were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and immunoturbidimetry (IT), and the nir-uAlb/uCreat ratio was calculated. Urinary ortho-tyrosine (o-Tyr/uCreat), an indicator of oxidative stress, was measured by HPLC. The severity of stroke was scored based on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The prevalence of microalbuminuria detected by HPLC was significantly higher than that detetcted by IT (66.3 vs 36.7%). Although all forms of albumin showed significant correlation with stroke severity (t-uAlb: r = 0.24, P < .05 ir-uAlb: r = 0.25, P < .05 nir-uAlb: r = 0.29, P < .05), only nir-uAlb was found to be an independent predictor of stroke severity (B = 0.20, β = 0.35, P < .05). In addition, t-uAlb/uCreat and nir-uAlb/uCreat had a significant correlation with o-Tyr/uCreat (r = 0.336, P < .05 and r = 0.358, P < .05 respectively), whereas ir-uAlb/uCreat did not (r = 0.22, P > .05). Our data suggest that in acute ischemic stroke patients, t-uAlb is a more sensitive indicator of microalbuminuria than the presently used ir-uAlb. Future studies should aim to elucidate the underlying mechanisms for the relationship among urinary albumins and cerebrovascular diseases and the role of urinary albumins in risk stratification for stroke.

Analysis of microalbuminuria with immunonephelometry and high performance liquid chromatography. Evaluation of new criteria

Mind a hipertónia, mind a 2-es típusú diabetes mellitus jelentős tényező a népesség halálozásában. Mindkét betegség károsítja az endothelt, aminek korai jele a microalbuminuria, amelyet szűrővizsgálatként tesztcsíkkal, diagnosztikus vizsgálatként immunológiai alapú módszerekkel, illetve nagy teljesítményű folyadékkromatográfiával lehet mérni. Ez utóbbi segítségével az ún. nem immunreaktív albuminforma is kimutatható. Célkitűzés: A szerzők célkitűzése immunnefelometriával microalbuminuriára negatív, diabéteszes és hipertóniás, illetve nem diabéteszes hipertóniás betegek albuminürítésének vizsgálata volt nagy teljesítményű folyadékkromatográfiával. Továbbá célul tűzték ki a microalbuminuria megállapításához használt jelenlegi kritériumok (albumin-kreatinin hányados: férfiaknál ≥2,5 mg/mmol, nőknél ≥3,5 mg/mmol) és a közelmúltban megjelent Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation tanulmány által javasolt új kritériumok (nem diabéteszesekben, immunológiai módszerrel ≥0,7 mg/mmol, nagy teljesítményű folyadékkromatográfiás módszerrel ≥3,1 mg/mmol, diabéteszesekben immunológiai módszerrel ≥1,4 mg/mmol, nagy teljesítményű folyadékkromatográfiával ≥5,2 mg/mmol) használhatóságának vizsgálatát is. Módszer: Szűrővizsgálattal microalbuminuriára negatív 469 egyén vizeletének vizsgálata történt meg immunnefelometriás módszerrel. Az így is negatívakat vizsgálták tovább nagy teljesítményű folyadékkromatográfián alapuló, a méretkizárásos kromatográfia elvén működő Accumin™ Kit-tel. Eredmények: Nagy teljesítményű folyadékkromatográfiával átlagosan háromszor nagyobb albuminürítést mértek, mint immunnefelometriával. Az intraindividuális variációs koefficiens a két módszerrel nem különbözött (37 ± 31% és 40 ± 31%, p = 0,869; immunnefelometria és nagy teljesítményű folyadékkromatográfia; átlag ± szórás). A jelenlegi albumin-kreatinin hányadoson alapuló kritériumokat használva, az immunológiai módszerrel negatív egyének nagy teljesítményű folyadékkromatográfiával 43%-ban bizonyultak pozitívnak. Ha a Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation tanulmány új kritériumait használták, 14,5%-ra csökkent az immunnefelometriával negatív, nagy teljesítményű folyadékkromatográfiával pozitívak aránya; nagy teljesítményű folyadékkromatográfiával microalbuminuria-pozitívak száma elsősorban a diabéteszes és hipertóniás csoportban csökkent (49% és 7,5%), míg a nem diabéteszes hipertóniás csoportban kevésbé (37% és 26,5%). A hagyományos kritériumrendszerben logisztikus regressziós vizsgálat során a legerősebb kockázati faktornak a férfinem bizonyult. Az immunnefelometriával microalbuminuriára negatív egyének 28%-ában nagy teljesítményű folyadékkromatográfiával kimondható a microalbuminuria diagnózisa a jelen szakmai szabályok szerint. Következtetések: Az immunológiai módszerekkel microalbuminuriára negatív egyének közel harmadában nagy teljesítményű folyadékkromatográfiával kimondható a microalbuminuria diagnózisa, amihez továbbra is szükséges a háromszori vizeletvizsgálat. A Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation tanulmány által megállapított új kritériumok sem a diabéteszes és hipertóniás betegekre, sem a nem diabéteszes hipertóniás betegekre nem alkalmazhatók jól. Nem lehet figyelmen kívül hagyni a microalbuminuria-pozitivitás legjelentősebb prediktorát, a nemet.

Presence of immunounreactive albumin in the urine of diabetic patients

Recent studies have demonstrated that conventional immunochemical assays underestimate urinary albumin concentration because of the presence of immunounreactive albumin. It has been reported that intact urinary albumin in 24-hr diabetic urine samples could be detected as total concentration (immunoreactive+immunounreactive) by an HPLC method based on size exclusion chromatography. The aim of this study was to investigate urinary albumin concentration in diabetic spot urine samples by comparing the HPLC method with several other methods. The albumin concentrations on 80 diabetic spot urine specimens were measured by turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and a dipstick method. In addition, they were also analyzed by reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE) and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Native PAGE). The albumin concentrations derived from diabetic spot urine samples measured by the HPLC method were higher than those of the other methods except for five of 80 samples. Furthermore, the albumin concentrations analyzed by Native PAGE were higher than SDS PAGE in 61 (76.2%) of 80 samples. This study suggests the need for evaluating diabetes not only by HPLC, but also by combining it with another method.

Comparison of Commonly Used Assays for the Detection of Microalbuminuria

There are a variety of methods for assessing urinary albumin excretion, extending from the very low-range microalbuminuria to higher ranges extending into macroalbuminuria or proteinuria. The recommendation for the initial screening of a new patient is to use a urine dipstick to assess for microalbuminuria. If positive, a spot urine for albumin:creatinine should be measured and reassessed annually. All patients with kidney disease, diabetes, or hypertension and metabolic syndrome should be screened for albuminuria. New methodologies using high-performance liquid chromatography are much more sensitive and specific when compared with older methods of detection and may prove very useful for earlier identification of high-risk patients. This is important since studies have shown that albuminuria levels below the microalbuminuria range, determined by conventional methodologies in uncomplicated essential hypertensive men, are associated with an adverse cardiovascular and metabolic risk profile. High performance liquid chromatography methodology, in contrast to older studies, detects all intact albumin and enables clinicians to assess disease severity and monitor therapeutic effectiveness with confidence in the accuracy of the microalbuminuria data reported to them.

Update on microalbuminuria as a biomarker in renal and cardiovascular disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To discuss recently published papers on the potential use of albuminuria as a predictor of cardiovascular and renal disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies indicate that screening for microalbuminuria may not only be beneficial for detection and prevention of cardiovascular and renal disease in patients with diabetes, but also in the general population. The best method for this, however, is not yet clear. Findings indicate that it is preferable to assess albumin concentration in fresh urine samples rather than in samples that have been frozen. Furthermore, a new assay for albumin assessment has become available, which detects previously undetectable immuno-unreactive albumin above and beyond immunoreactive albumin detected by classic immunochemical assays. The pros and cons of this assay are considered.

SUMMARY

Urinary albumin is a cheap, noninvasive, and easily assessable risk marker, that does not per se require a visit to a physician or health center. As such, it is a promising candidate for screening to identify subjects at high risk of cardiovascular and renal disease, even if albuminuria is not shown to be independent of other risk markers.

Population prevalence of albuminuria in the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study: immunonephelometry compared with high-performance liquid chromatography

BACKGROUND

Microalbuminuria is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the general population. Standard immunochemical urinary albumin assays detect immunoreactive albumin, whereas high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) detects both immunoreactive and immunounreactive albumin.

METHODS

Using data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle cohort study of randomly selected community-based Australian adults, spot urine samples were tested for albuminuria (spot urine albumin-creatinine ratio [ACR]: normal, < 30 mg/g; microalbuminuria, 30 to 300 mg/g; and macroalbuminuria, > 300 mg/g) by using both immunonephelometry (IN) and HPLC (n = 10,010).

RESULTS

Bland-Altman analysis showed significant bias, with a greater ACR by means of HPLC, particularly at lower levels of ACR. Mean ACR was 15.8 mg/g (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.3 to 19.2) by means of IN compared with 30.0 mg/g (95% CI, 27.0 to 35.0) by means of HPLC. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 4 times greater by means of HPLC compared with IN (20% versus 5.5%). In all demographic and comorbid subgroups associated with microalbuminuria, the prevalence of microalbuminuria increased by 2 to 4 times. A total of 1,743 subjects (17.4%) classified as normoalbuminuric by means of IN were reclassified as microalbuminuric by means of HPLC. Using multivariate logistic regression, women, patients with untreated and treated hypertension, and those with impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes were associated significantly with a change in category from normoalbuminuric to microalbuminuria by means of HPLC.

CONCLUSION

HPLC measures significantly more urinary albumin within the normoalbuminuria and microalbuminuria range, resulting in a significant increase in prevalence of microalbuminuria. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether the extra individuals identified by means of HPLC are at increased risk for developing hard clinical outcomes (renal and cardiovascular).

Analytical validation of an HPLC assay for urinary albumin

BACKGROUND

Microalbuminuria is the earliest clinical finding for renal disease. Diabetic individuals often produce modified forms of albumin, perhaps due to impaired lysosomal processing, that are undetectable by common immunoassays but accurately measured by HPLC.

METHODS

We evaluated the performance of a commercially available, FDA-approved HPLC assay (AusAm Biotechnologies, NY) and compare results to our immunoturbidimetric assay (ITA, Beckman-Coulter, CA) using random urine specimens from 32 nondiabetic and 60 type 1 and 2 diabetic subjects.

RESULTS

The HPLC assay was linear to 963 mg/l with a limit of detection of 6.1 mg/l. Within-run and between-run precision was <2% and 7-10%, respectively. Unpreserved urine was stable for at least 3 days at room temperature and 10 days at 4 degrees C. In both diabetic and nondiabetic subjects urinary albumin concentrations were higher by HPLC than by ITA, and many more diabetic and nondiabetic individuals were classified as microalbuminuric by HPLC than by ITA. The HPLC assay showed acceptable performance; however, because urinary albumin concentrations are higher in apparently healthy nondiabetic as well as diabetic subjects, different cutpoints will be necessary to accurately differentiate microalbuminuria.

CONCLUSIONS

Prospective studies are necessary to determine whether the HPLC assay can effectively detect microalbuminuria earlier than current assays without a concomitant increase in the false positive rate.

The analysis and characterisation of immuno-unreactive urinary albumin in healthy volunteers

OBJECTIVES

To compare the analysis of different forms of intact albumin in urine from healthy volunteers. To determine contamination by common non-albumin proteins on HPLC analysis of urinary albumin and of purified immuno-unreactive albumin.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Overnight urine samples collected from healthy volunteers were analysed for total albumin (immunoreactive plus immuno-unreactive) by HPLC and densitometry following native PAGE separation and for immunoreactive albumin by RIA. The contamination by non-albumin proteins of the HPLC analysis of urinary albumin and of immuno-unreactive albumin preparations was determined by ELISA. Immuno-unreactive albumin was tested for Co2+-binding capacity.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

HPLC analysis of healthy urine generates higher ACR values than immunological methods due to the presence of immuno-unreactive albumin. Immuno-unreactive albumin cannot be accounted for by the non-albumin urinary proteins tested. Isolated immuno-unreactive albumin is not recognised by antibodies to common urinary proteins or by an array of anti-albumin antibodies and behaves like serum albumin in terms of HPLC elution, native PAGE migration, and cobalt ion binding.

Meprin-α in chronic diabetic nephropathy: interaction with the renin-angiotensin axis

Meprin (MEP) A is a metalloendopeptidase that is present in the renal proximal tubule brush-border membrane (BBM) and that colocalizes with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The MEP β-chain gene locus on chromosome 18 has been linked to a heightened risk of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study evaluated 1) whether MEP-α and MEP-β gene and protein expression are altered in db/db mice before the onset of DN and 2) the role of MEP-α in the pathogenesis of DN and the impact of the renin-angiotensin system on this interaction in two experimental models of diabetes. MEP-α and MEP-β gene and protein expression were evaluated in db/db mice, 13–14 wk of age, compared with lean C57BLKS/J littermate animals. A treatment study was then performed in which db/db mice and controls were assigned to one of three groups: control (C) water, no therapy; ACE inhibitor therapy, enalapril (EN)-treated water, 50 mg/l; ANG II receptor type 1 blocker (ARB) therapy, losartan (LOS)-treated water, 500 mg/l. Treatment was started at 8 wk of age and continued for 52 wk. Male Sprague-Dawley rats with diabetes for 52 wk following a single dose of streptozocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg) were also studied. At 13.5 wk of age, MEP-α and MEP-β kidney mRNA abundance and protein expression were significantly lower in db/db mice compared with lean controls, with greater changes in MEP-β ( P < 0.05). In the treatment study, EN ameliorated and LOS exacerbated DN in db/db mice. BBM MEP A enzymatic activity and MEP-α protein content were lower in db/db mice vs. control nonobese mice at 52 wk ( P < 0.02). EN-treated db/db mice showed increased MEP A activity, MEP-α content in BBM, decreased urinary MEP-α excretion, and enhanced BBM staining for MEP-α protein vs. C and LOS-treated db/db mice. In nonobese mice, EN and LOS treatment had no effect on MEP-α expression. In rats with STZ-induced diabetes for 52 wk, urinary MEP-α excretion was increased and MEP A activity and MEP-α protein content per milligram of BBM protein were decreased compared with age-matched control animals ( P < 0.05). These results indicate that db/db mice manifest decreased MEP-α and MEP-β gene and protein expression, before the development of overt kidney disease. Moreover, in db/db mice with DN and rats with STZ-diabetes, there was an inverse relationship between renal MEP-α content and the severity of the renal injury. Treatment with an ACE inhibitor was more effective than ARB in ameliorating DN in db/db mice, a change that correlated with alterations in urinary excretion and BBM content of MEP-α. MEP-α may play a role in the pathogenesis of DN and the benefits of ACE inhibitor therapy on the progression of diabetic kidney disease may be related, in part, to its impact on renal MEP-α expression.

Detection of urinary albumin

Microalbuminuria is an important clinical marker in patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The concentration of albumin in urine has traditionally been measured by semiquantitative dipsticks or by various quantitative immunochemical methods such as immunonephelometry, immunoturbidimetry, and radioimmunoassay. However, until recently, urinary albumin not reabsorbed by proximal tubular cells was assumed to be excreted intact. Studies have now revealed that the nature of urinary albumin is complex and is excreted as a mixture of intact albumin, albumin-derived peptides that are not detected by routine dipstick and antibody-based tests, and a species of intact albumin (immunounreactive albumin), also not detected by dipstick and antibody-based tests. A new test, Accumin, based on high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, is able to detect all the immunoreactive intact albumin and immunounreactive intact albumin (total intact albumin) in urine. The advantage in the use of Accumin over a conventional dipstick test or antibody-based laboratory method for detecting microalbuminuria is that false negatives are reduced and a relatively earlier diagnosis of incipient kidney disease can be achieved. The introduction of Accumin has, therefore, highlighted the need for a global standard in the detection and measurement of microalbuminuria. By detecting all of the immunoreactive and immunounreactive intact albumin in urine, Accumin has virtually invalidated the use of dye and immunologically-based dipstick tests and immunologically-based laboratory methods in screening for microalbuminuria in diabetic patients and in identifying microalbuminuria as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

On the nature of proteinuria with acute renal injury in patients with chronic kidney disease

Albuminuria is an excellent marker of cardiovascular and renal prognosis. Commercially available tests of immunodetectable albumin in the urine may not identify posttranslationally modified albumin that makes it undetectable to antibodies. Also, it is unclear whether albumin is degraded to smaller fragments, such as through proteolysis, in the course of acute renal injury. In 20 men with chronic kidney disease, we measured excretion rates of urinary protein (pyragallol red), immundetectable urinary albumin (immunoturbidimetry), and urinary total intact albumin (HPLC) after a single dose of 100 mg intravenous iron sucrose administered over 5 min. Fragmentation of urinary albumin and carbonylation of urinary proteins were assessed by immunoblotting. Results showed that iron infusion increased carbonylation of plasma and urinary proteins in a time-dependent manner. A transient increase in urinary excretion rates of total protein, immunodetectable urinary albumin, and total intact albumin was seen. Fragmentation and loss of immunoreactivity of albumin paralleled the changes in total protein excretion. In conclusion, fragmentation, loss of immunoreactivity, and oxidation of albumin in a time-dependent manner may underestimate the extent of injury with the immunoreactive microalbumin assay. Measurement of total intact albumin may better quantify acute renal injury.

Effects of sulfonylureas, α-endosulfine counterparts, on glomerulosclerosis in type 1 and type 2 models of diabetes

BACKGROUND

Previously, we showed the expression of a unique sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) and its putative endogenous ligand, alpha-endosulfine, in mesangial cells and isolated glomeruli. Further, this ligand was up-regulated by high glucose concentration. To investigate the possible role of alpha-endosulfine up-regulation in diabetes, we administered sulfonylureas, the exogenous ligands of SUR, to diabetic animals.

METHODS

In streptozotocin-induced, insulin-deficient, diabetic rats, glomerulosclerosis, albuminuria, glomerular expression of fibronectin mRNA, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were studied for various periods up to 36 weeks. Several rat groups received either glibenclamide or tolazamide during the entire study period. Also, glomerulosclerosis and albuminuria were determined in insulin-resistant db/db mice, at 26 weeks of treatment with tolazamide.

RESULTS

Sulfonylureas did not improve hyperglycemia or reduce glycosylated hemoglobin levels. In insulin-deficient diabetic rats, sulfonylureas significantly decreased the degree of glomerulosclerosis and completely reversed the enhanced albumin excretion. Also, glibenclamide reduced diabetes-induced glomerular overexpression of fibronectin mRNA. Because glibenclamide may improve the afferent arteriolar dilatation of diabetes, thereby reducing glomerular hyperfiltration, its effect on GFR was determined. Glibenclamide did not alter glomerular hyperfiltration or renal hypertrophy, regardless of the intensity of hyperglycemia. Finally, in insulin-resistant mice, tolazamide did not alter the extent of diabetic glomerulosclerosis or increased albuminuria.

CONCLUSION

Long-term treatment with sulfonylureas completely prevents glomerular injury in insulin-deficient diabetes in rats. However, this protective effect is not demonstrable in an insulin-resistant model of the disease. We postulate that mesangial alpha-endosulfine up-regulation in the hyperglycemic milieu of insulin-deficient diabetes may retard glomerular extracellular matrix formation and mesangial expansion.

Earlier detection of microalbuminuria in diabetic patients using a new urinary albumin assay

BACKGROUND

Microalbuminuria is regarded as the most important predictor of high risk for the development of diabetic nephropathy. Early detection may allow treatment to prevent progression to persistent albuminuria and renal failure. Recent studies have shown that conventional immunoassays underestimate urinary albumin concentration, as albumin in urine may exist in two forms, immuno-reactive and immuno-unreactive. The present study examines the differential lead-time for the development of microalbuminuria as measured by both conventional radioimmunoassay (RIA; measures immuno-reactive) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; measures total albumin = immuno-reactive plus immuno-unreactive) analysis in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODS

Analysis was performed on 511 stored urine samples collected over the last 13 years from type 1 diabetic patients who either progressed from normo- to microalbuminuria (progressors, N= 17), or who remained normoalbuminuric (nonprogressors, N= 25) as defined by RIA, and on 634 urine samples collected from patients with type 2 diabetes defined as either progressors (N= 24) or nonprogressors (N= 25).

RESULTS

For type 1 progressors, the mean lead-time for the HPLC assay versus the RIA was 3.9 years, with a 95% CI of 2.1 to 5.6 years. For type 2 progressors, the mean lead-time was 2.4 years with a 95% CI of 1.2 to 3.5 years. There was no significant difference between the lead-time analysis between type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that measurement of total albumin may allow earlier detection of microalbuminuria associated with diabetic nephropathy.

Which method for quantifying urinary albumin excretion gives what outcome? A comparison of immunonephelometry with HPLC

BACKGROUND

Microalbuminuria has recently been identified as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in the general population. Immunochemical urinary albumin assays only detect immunoreactive intact albumin. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is able to detect both immunoreactive and immunounreactive intact albumin. We compared both measurement methods respectively in subjects with normo-, micro-, and macroalbuminuria in the general population.

METHODS

We used 24-hour urine samples that were collected within the framework of the second screening for the PREVEND Study, a prospective cohort study on albuminuria in the city of Groningen, The Netherlands.

RESULTS

With nephelometry as immunochemical reference method, we classified 986 subjects as normoalbuminuric, 283 as microalbuminuric, and 43 subjects as macroalbuminuric. The mean +/- SD albumin concentration was 6.8 +/- 4.3 mg/L for nephelometry in the urine samples of the 998 subjects with a concentration <20 mg/L according to nephelometry versus 17.6 +/- 10.3 mg/L for HPLC (P < 0.001, HPLC 159% higher). These values were 58.9 +/- 40.6 mg/L for nephelometry versus 74.0 +/- 51.8 mg/L for HPLC (P < 0.001, N = 280, HPLC 26% higher) in the concentration range between 20 to 200 mg/L, and 436.3 +/- 371.8 mg/L for nephelometry versus 399.1 +/- 329.2 mg/L for HPLC above 200 mg/L (P = 0.048, N = 34, HPLC 8.5% lower). Associations of 24-hour urinary albumin excretion with cardiovascular risk factors were generally somewhat stronger for nephelometry than for HPLC. Logistic regression analyses with an abnormal ankle-brachial index as outcome parameter revealed adjusted odds ratios of 1.78 (95%CI 1.01-3.12, P < 0.05) and 4.67 (95%CI 1.68-12.9, P < 0.05) respectively for micro- and macroalbuminuria as determined by HPLC, compared to 1.37 (95%CI 0.77-2.41, P = NS) and 3.85 (95%CI 1.53-9.67, P < 0.05) respectively for nephelometry. The ROC-curve showed similar sensitivity and specificity for both methods (P = 0.25).

CONCLUSION

The use of HPLC for determination of urinary albumin concentrations reveals higher values compared to nephelometry, especially in the lower concentration range, resulting in a higher prevalence of microalbuminuria. With HPLC compared to nephelometry, we found a 21% higher independent odds ratio for microalbuminuria with the presence of peripheral vascular disease, and a 30% higher independent odds ratio for macroalbuminuria. This higher prevalence of microalbuminuria, accompanied with a similar absolute risk for peripheral vascular disease compared to patients with microalbuminuria detected by nephelometry, suggests HPLC to identify more people at risk, which is of great importance, especially when screening in large populations is concerned.

Characterization of immunochemically nonreactive urinary albumin

BACKGROUND

Conventional immunoassays underestimate the urinary albumin concentration because intact albumin in urine exists in two forms, immunoreactive and immunochemically nonreactive.

METHODS

Urinary albumin concentration measured by HPLC (which measures total albumin, i.e., the sum of immunoreactive albumin + immunochemically nonreactive albumin) or RIA was compared with densitometric analysis of albumin bands in diabetic urine samples separated by either native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) or reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-PAGE. Immunochemically nonreactive albumin was also isolated from diabetic urine (relative amount detected, 70-80% of the expected) and was tested for contamination by common urinary proteins by native PAGE, ELISA, and capillary electrophoresis.

RESULTS

Urinary albumin concentrations measured by native PAGE and HPLC were better correlated (r(2) = 0.83) than concentrations measured by native PAGE and RIA (r(2) = 0.62) because under native conditions both native PAGE and HPLC detect total albumin and not only the immunoreactive albumin alone that is measured by RIA. Urinary albumin concentrations measured by reducing SDS-PAGE and RIA were better correlated (r(2) = 0.84) than concentrations measured by reducing SDS-PAGE and HPLC (r(2) = 0.65) because under reducing conditions immunochemically nonreactive albumin is unstable and fragments into many smaller peptides. The partially purified preparation was found to contain <1% contamination by common urinary proteins and is stable to freezing and frequent freeze/thaw cycles.

CONCLUSIONS

The results are consistent with the interpretation that immunochemically nonreactive albumin has a limited number of polypeptide chain scissions and is held together by noncovalent intrachain bonding and disulfide bonds. Detection of this molecule is likely to be of clinical importance in diagnosing kidney disease as well as cardiovascular disease.

Differences in urinary albumin detected by four immunoassays and high-performance liquid chromatography

OBJECTIVES

To compare the analysis of urinary albumin from diabetic patients by four conventional immunoassays including radioimmunoassay (RIA), immunonephelometry (IN), and two different methods of immunoturbidimetry (IT), as well as by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

DESIGN AND METHODS

Urines were collected over a 24-h period and stored at -20 degrees C until assay. Urinary albumin concentration was determined by an in-house RIA, by IN using a Beckman Array Analyser with reagents from Beckman Diagnostics (Sydney, Australia), by IT using a Dade-Behring Turbitimer with reagents from Dade-Behring (Marburg, Germany), by IT using a Dade-Behring Dimension R x L Chemistry Analyser with reagents from DiaSorin (Stillwater, OK, USA), and by HPLC using a Zorbax Bio series preparative GF-250 column. Regression lines were calculated using a least squares method to determine the correlation between the assays studied. Bland-Altman bias plots including limits of agreement were also calculated.

RESULTS

The correlation coefficients calculated were high (>0.85) indicating a strong linear relationship between all assays studied. The slopes calculated for the comparisons demonstrate that each assay can vary from one another (up to threefold) and have a slope significantly different from an ideal slope of 1 (P < 0.001). These results were confirmed by Bland-Altman bias plots and calculation of the limits of agreement that were all large.

CONCLUSIONS

At this time, there is no global standard by which urinary albumin assays may be standardized. This study suggests the need for such standards.

The effect of ramipril on albumin excretion in diabetes and hypertension: the role of increased lysosomal activity and decreased transforming growth factor-beta expression

OBJECTIVES

Albumin excretion is modulated post-filtration by lysosomal processing that produces a spectrum of albumin-derived material in urine, much of which is not detected by conventional immunoassays. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of ramipril treatment (+ RAM) after 24 weeks on total albumin excretion (intact plus albumin-derived peptides) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats with (d) and without (c) diabetes.

METHODS

Intact albumin excretion was analysed by radioimmunoassay and total albumin excretion was analysed by measuring radioactivity derived from circulating [ C]albumin. Renal lysosomal activity was determined by urinary [ H]dextran sulphate desulphation. Renal transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), TGF-beta inducible gene-h3 (beta ig-h3) and angiotensinogen mRNA production were analysed by real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Hypertension (SHR-c and SHR-d) resulted in a significant increase in intact albumin excretion, which was significantly reduced by ramipril treatment (P < 0.05 for SHR-c + RAM and 0.001 for SHR-d + RAM compared to non-treated). This was accompanied by a significant decrease in blood pressure (P < 0.001 for SHR-c + RAM and SHR-d + RAM), renal beta ig-h3 mRNA production (P < 0.05 for SHR-c + RAM and SHR-d + RAM), and an increase in lysosomal activity. Diabetes (WKY-d and SHR-d) primarily caused a significant increase in total albumin excretion, predominantly in the form of albumin-derived fragments in the WKY-d group and intact albumin in the SHR-d group. Ramipril treatment reduced total albumin excretion in the WKY-d + RAM group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Ramipril prevents increases in both intact albumin and total albumin excretion in hypertensive and diabetic states, respectively.

Pathways of proteolysis affecting renal cell growth

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Although the suppression of protein breakdown plays a major role in the growth of the adult kidney in conditions that cause renal hypertrophy, the pathways responsible for controlling proteolysis and the substrates being destroyed have only recently been investigated. This review focuses on the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in regulating specific substrates during kidney growth, and the role of the lysosomal pathways in the suppression of general protein breakdown and of the substrates of chaperone-mediated autophagy.

RECENT FINDINGS

New insights into the regulation of specific ubiquitin ligases demonstrate how the cell controls the destruction of particular substrates important for growth, including hypoxia-inducible factors and the cell cycle inhibitor, p27. In cell culture, growth factors suppress the lysosomal pathway of chaperone-mediated autophagy leading to the accumulation of specific cytoplasmic proteins containing KFERQ motifs. In a variety of systems, including cultured renal tubular cells, phosphoinositol 3 kinase activity and its downstream mediators control lysosomal proteolysis.

SUMMARY

Specific ubiquitin ligases and the pathways that control their substrate recognition may be key signalling intermediaries for cell growth, but global alterations in lysosomal pathways account for the decrease in general proteolysis. Functional KFERQ motifs mark proteins that are important in renal growth, including enzymes responsible for the characteristic shift to glycolytic metabolism during growth, transcription factors, and signalling molecules. As altering phosphoinositol 3 kinase changes patterns of vesicular trafficking, it is possible that the regulation of intracellular trafficking may underlie the changes seen in lysosomal proteolysis with growth.

Renal handling of albumin: a critical review of basic concepts and perspective

Biochemical and physiological processes that underlie the mechanism of albuminuria are completely reassessed in this article in view of recent discoveries that filtered proteins undergo rapid degradation during renal passage and the resulting excreted peptide fragments are not detected by conventional urine protein assays. This means that filtered protein and/or albumin levels in urine have been seriously underestimated. The concept that albuminuria is a result of changes in glomerular permeability is questioned in light of these findings and also in terms of a critical examination of charge selectivity, shunts, or large-pore formation and hemodynamic effects. The glomerulus appears to function merely in terms of size selectivity alone, and for albumin, this does not change significantly in disease states. Intensive albumin processing by a living kidney occurs through cellular processes distal to the glomerular basement membrane. Failure of this cellular processing primarily leads to albuminuria. This review brings together recent data about urinary albumin clearance and current knowledge of receptors known to process albumin in both health and disease states. We conclude with a discussion of topical and controversial issues associated with the proposed new understanding of renal handling of albumin.

Glomerular permselectivity factors are not responsible for the increase in fractional clearance of albumin in rat glomerulonephritis

The increased fractional clearance of albumin in nephrotic states has long been attributed to glomerular permselectivity dysfunction. Using radiolabeled rat serum albumin, transferrin, IgG, and polydisperse Ficoll, this study investigated the changes in their in vivo fractional clearance in puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis and anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis. In control rats the lack of charge selectivity was confirmed by the demonstration that carboxymethyl Ficoll (valence approximately -39) had the same fractional clearance as uncharged Ficoll. Both diseases exhibited similar effects on fractional clearance measurements suggesting an underlying common mechanism. In disease, there was good agreement between the fractional clearance of proteins determined by radioactivity as compared to those determined by radioimmunoassay. A small increase in the fractional clearance for IgG was evident in disease as compared to controls, which mirrored the change in the equivalent size Ficoll, suggesting that the increase is because of the development of a small proportion of large pores in the glomerular capillary wall. There was no increase, however, in the fractional clearance of Ficoll of equivalent size to albumin in either disease, yet the fractional clearance of the albumin increased by 12 to 14 times as determined by radioactivity and 4500 to 6600 times as determined by radioimmunoassay. This study demonstrates that glomerulonephritis is not a disease associated with changes in glomerular permeability to albumin but is because of alterations in albumin processing by cells distal to the glomerular basement membrane. It is also apparent that approaches to glomerular pathology and proteinuria as risk factors in renal disease must be reassessed.