Transcriptome Analysis in Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome: an Insight Into the Mechanisms of Steroid Responsiveness

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Diagnostic test
Study Type: Observational
SUMMARY

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) affects the glomerular barrier by damaging the podocytes with foot process effacement, leading to a pathological increase of permeability and protein loss. INS classification is based on the clinical response to glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. When GCs treatment fails to induce remission in a four-six weeks course, patients are defined as affected with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). The whole transcriptome sequencing could consent the INS classification at onset, prior to glucocorticoids (GCs) treatment, allowing to reduction of unuseful GCs treatment. RNA sequencing technologies allow an extensive characterization of the transcriptomic profile and permit global changes in gene expression levels between different conditions such as active and remission of the disease. Of great interest is the research of a molecular biomarker to predict steroid resistance, a predictor that is not yet available. Among the candidate biomarkers, pharmacogenomic determinants are promising, even if available studies are still limited. Among these, some epigenetic factors have been previously suggested. Data obtained in animal models suggests that nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors (NOD-like receptor) pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome can be deregulated in a wide variety of glomerular diseases, including those causing INS. Another potential marker involved in steroid response is the long noncoding RNA GAS5. Data reported in the literature indicate that abnormal levels of GAS5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) may alter steroid effectiveness in autoimmune diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease. Preliminary findings show that the study of NLRP3 promoter methylation could be reduced in the blood of SRNS compared with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) patients. Moreover, unpublished encouraging results on the association between Growth Arrest Specific 5 (GAS5) expression and steroid response in INS in PBMCs were obtained in a preliminary study conducted on 8 patients with the first episode of INS. PBMCs were obtained and GAS5 gene expression was evaluated using TaqMan technology. Patients affected with SRNS presented significantly higher levels of GAS5 in comparison with the SSNS group. In PBMCs from SRNS patients, the GAS5 expression could reduce the availability for binding to GCs target genes of the activated GCs receptor and suppresses GC transcriptional activity.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 1
Maximum Age: 12
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• clinical diagnosis of INS

• age 1 - 12 years

• signed informed consent by parents or legal guardians

• For controls: aged-matched individuals with Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT)

Locations
Other Locations
Italy
Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS Burlo Garofolo
RECRUITING
Trieste
Contact Information
Primary
Marco Pennesi, MD
marco.pennesi@burlo.trieste.it
+39. 040-3785263
Backup
Barbara Bonifacio
barbara.bonifacio@burlo.trieste.it
+39.040.3785.422
Time Frame
Start Date: 2023-03-16
Estimated Completion Date: 2025-03
Participants
Target number of participants: 60
Treatments
Patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome
Identification of a possible molecular signatures at t0 by whole transcriptome analysis from PBMCs
Patients with steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome
Identification of a possible molecular signatures at t0 by whole transcriptome analysis from PBMCs
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: IRCCS Burlo Garofolo

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov