Evolving Biomarkers in Kidney Transplantation

Abstract

Precision medicine is mainly based on reliable and noninvasive biomarkers. The aim of this review was to describe the newest biomarkers in the field of kidney transplantation and kidney rejection, one of the most common and severe complications. The standard tools used to identify acute rejection largely result in errors and have many drawbacks. In recent years, new and reliable biomarkers have been identified. These methods avoid risks, are noninvasive, and are able to detect rejection even in cases in which acute rejection is clinically asymptomatic and not otherwise identifiable, which is a frequent occurrence. In recent years, several biomarkers have been identified. Very recently, new relevant biomarkers with high positive predictive value and low negative predictive value have been identified. These are the donor-derived cell-free DNA found in the recipient, the gene expression profile of the donor found in the recipient, and the urinary cytokines that are modified in the graft tissue. The aim of this study was to identify the most recent findings in the literature on this topic and to describe the utility and possible limitations of such new biomarkers for kidney rejection.

Keywords

• kidney rejection
• biomarkers
• subclinical rejection
• donor-derived cell-free DNA
• gene expression profile
• urinary cytokines