A recent study led by researchers at Columbia University has suggested that the cause of common kidney disease, Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, likely lies outside the kidney.
The study identified 16 new locations in the genome associated with the disease, reinforcing the idea that the immune system plays a crucial role in driving the condition.
This points towards fresh strategies for its detection and treatment.
About IgA Nephropathy
IgA nephropathy, which often necessitates a kidney biopsy for diagnosis, is difficult to detect and confirm.
This difficulty in diagnosis, along with a lack of understanding of the disease’s underlying cause, has contributed to the absence of approved targeted treatments.
Study Details
To identify genes linked to the disease, which could hint at its origin and guide the development of new drugs, the researchers built a vast network of collaborators across four continents.
Blood samples were collected locally from biopsied patients and sent to the Columbia team for DNA extraction and analysis.
The team, which comprised nearly 200 scientists and clinicians from over 100 institutions, analyzed samples from almost 40,000 subjects over a decade.
They compared DNA from IgA nephropathy cases to DNA from people without the disease, making it the largest ever genetic study of IgA nephropathy.
Findings and Implications
The study identified many new genes involved in the production of IgA antibodies, suggesting that the regulation of IgA levels could be a key factor behind the disease.
The team also developed a genetic risk profile to help identify patients most at risk of progressing to kidney failure.
Additionally, the researchers identified proteins produced by the newly discovered genes that could be targets for drug development.
Two drugs already studied for other conditions were also identified as potential IgA nephropathy treatments.
Lead author Krzysztof Kiryluk highlighted that genetic studies can increase the likelihood of drug development success, expressing hope that pharmaceutical companies will begin developing new therapies based on these findings.
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The study was published in Nature Genetics. Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
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