Cross-Species Molecular Similarities Based on Omics Approaches in CKD: Toward Improved Translation From Pre-Clinical Models to Humans.

Abstract

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is very high, and it is increasing. Obviously, the care is costly. The identification of biomarkers able to predict disease progression is key for optimal patient care. Tissue, blood, and urine omics are being used to discover new biomarkers. It is challenging to compare omics in animal models with that of CKD patients. The main obstacle is the enormous genetic difference between humans and rodents. Although animal models do not fully resemble CKD, there are possibilities to combine pathologies in an attempt to be closer to the human clinical picture. This manuscript describes Zucker rat model that has been modified to better resemble diabetic CKD: obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and renal function deterioration. This model has been used to evaluate treatments such as the administration of iSGLT2, VitE antioxidant therapy, or Mg supplementation. Plasma proteomics was performed in Nx-Zucker rats, and it was found change in families of proteins similar to those in CKD patients. Unfortunately, urine omics were not performed. It would be a good strategy to gather different research groups with similar aims to develop common strategies to share not only results but also samples obtained in patients and animals to optimize efforts.