217
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
G. Sindona et al. (eds.), Toxic Chemical and Biological Agents, NATO Science
for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2041-8_13
Chapter 13
New Insight into Idiopathic Nephrotic
Syndrome: Strategy Based on Urinary
Exosomes
Elisa Barigazzi, Lucia Santorelli, W. Morello, F. Raimondo, B. Crapella,
L. Ghio, C. Tamburello, G. Montini, and M. Pitto
Growing interest regards the use of minimally invasive “liquid biopsies” to identify
new biomarkers. Urinary exosomes (UE) are membranous nanovesicles released
into urine by cells facing the urinary space. Their molecular composition depends
upon the type of the producer cell; in that way, they provide a snapshot of the donor
cell, capable to monitor its status. Their presence in urine makes them readily accessible, giving the possibility to investigate eventually pathological conditions especially related to kidney [1].
While exosomes research has flourished, few studies have specifically targeted
the role of UE in the Nephrotic Syndrome (NS). As a rule, NS is a manifestation of
many underlying renal disease processes. Most often in children, however, the NS
is Idiopathic (INS), constituting the major childhood glomerular disease, with an
incidence of 2-7/100.000 children <16 years old. Response to initial treatment with
corticosteroids is an indicator of long-term prognosis, as resistant patients often
present progressive disease [2].
The aim of the study is to verify the possibility to use UE of INS patients as a
source of predictive markers of response to the corticosteroid treatment, and/or to
clarify the disease etiopathogenesis. Thus, we investigated the UE protein content
of a paediatric cohort of 30 patients, classified in three clinical classes, according to
E. Barigazzi (*) · L. Santorelli · F. Raimondo · M. Pitto
School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano – Bicocca, Milan, Italy
e-mail: e.barigazzi@campus.unimib.it; l.santorelli@campus.unimib.it
W. Morello
School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano – Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Paediatric Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ GrandaOspedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
B. Crapella · L. Ghio · C. Tamburello · G. Montini
Paediatric Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ GrandaOspedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
G. Sindona et al. (eds.), Toxic Chemical and Biological Agents, NATO Science
for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2041-8_13
Chapter 13
New Insight into Idiopathic Nephrotic
Syndrome: Strategy Based on Urinary
Exosomes
Elisa Barigazzi, Lucia Santorelli, W. Morello, F. Raimondo, B. Crapella,
L. Ghio, C. Tamburello, G. Montini, and M. Pitto
Growing interest regards the use of minimally invasive “liquid biopsies” to identify
new biomarkers. Urinary exosomes (UE) are membranous nanovesicles released
into urine by cells facing the urinary space. Their molecular composition depends
upon the type of the producer cell; in that way, they provide a snapshot of the donor
cell, capable to monitor its status. Their presence in urine makes them readily accessible, giving the possibility to investigate eventually pathological conditions especially related to kidney [1].
While exosomes research has flourished, few studies have specifically targeted
the role of UE in the Nephrotic Syndrome (NS). As a rule, NS is a manifestation of
many underlying renal disease processes. Most often in children, however, the NS
is Idiopathic (INS), constituting the major childhood glomerular disease, with an
incidence of 2-7/100.000 children <16 years old. Response to initial treatment with
corticosteroids is an indicator of long-term prognosis, as resistant patients often
present progressive disease [2].
The aim of the study is to verify the possibility to use UE of INS patients as a
source of predictive markers of response to the corticosteroid treatment, and/or to
clarify the disease etiopathogenesis. Thus, we investigated the UE protein content
of a paediatric cohort of 30 patients, classified in three clinical classes, according to
E. Barigazzi (*) · L. Santorelli · F. Raimondo · M. Pitto
School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano – Bicocca, Milan, Italy
e-mail: e.barigazzi@campus.unimib.it; l.santorelli@campus.unimib.it
W. Morello
School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano – Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Paediatric Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ GrandaOspedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
B. Crapella · L. Ghio · C. Tamburello · G. Montini
Paediatric Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ GrandaOspedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy