Plasma Levels of the Engulfment and Cell Motility Protein-1 are Associated with Kidney Damage in Diabetic Nephropathy: A Single-Center Pilot Study in Indonesia Population

• Published in: Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences Vol. 8; no. A; pp. 418 - 422
• Main Authors: Elfiani, Elfiani, Nasrul, Ellyza, Yanwirasti, Yanwirasti, Ali, Zulkhair, Puspasari, Anggelia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 25.07.2020
• ISSN: 1857-9655; 1857-9655
• DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2020.4276

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a chronic kidney disease with microvascular complications which influence a patient’s quality of life and poses a potentially significant economic burden. The discovery of new biomarkers is needed to gain a better understanding and find additional treatment approaches beyond controlling plasma glucose and blood pressure. The engulfment and cell motility protein called engulfment and cell motility protein (ELMO)-1 is known to play a role in tissue remodeling and is associated with DN progression in animal models. Human studies correlating this protein with DN have been limited, although a genetic variation of ELMO-1 has been associated with DN. AIMS: This research aimed to investigate the association and correlation of circulating ELMO-1 with the level of kidney damage in DN. METHODS: The research design was cross-sectional. In this study, 60 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) participated. Patients’ blood pressure, plasma glucose, and renal function parameters were measured to confirm the diagnosis. Albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) was used to assess the level of kidney damage and determines DN group. RESULTS: Analyses shown the severity of albuminuria which is associated with plasma ELMO-1 when DN is evident. Furthermore, in all study participants, plasma ELMO-1 was correlated with increased proteinuria, ACR, and decline of glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSIONS: Our research findings provide support for ELMO-1 as a promising marker of kidney damage level in patients with T2DM, especially when DN has occurred. Larger sample sizes and multicenter research in the Indonesian population are needed to confirm these results.