Implementation of Proteomics Biomarkers in Nephrology: From Animal Models to Human Application?

Preclinical animal models are extensively used in nephrology. In this review, the utility of performing proteome analysis of kidney tissue or urine in such models and transfer of the results to human application has been assessed. Analysis of the literature identified 68 relevant publications. Pathway analysis of the reported proteins clearly indicated links with known biological processes in kidney disease providing validation of the observed changes in the preclinical models. However, although most studies focused on the identification of early markers of kidney disease or prediction of its progression, none of the identified makers has made it to substantial validation in the clinic or at least in human samples. Especially in renal disease where urine is an abundant source of biomarkers of diseases of the kidney and the urinary tract, it therefore appears that the focus should be on human material based discovery studies. In contrast, the most valid information of proteome analysis of preclinical models in nephrology for translation in human disease resides in studies focusing on drug evaluation, both efficacy for translation to the clinic and for mechanistic insight.