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Cao et al. J Transl Genet Genom 2019;3:4 Journal of Translational
DOI: 10.20517/jtgg.2018.16 Genetics and Genomics

Review Open Access

Genomic biomarkers for chronic kidney disease: the
first step towards personalized medicine?

Jing-Yuan Cao , Le-Ting Zhou , Bi-Cheng Liu 1
2
1
1 Institute of Nephrology, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing 210009, China.
2 Department of Nephrology, Wuxi People’s Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214000, China.
Correspondence to: Dr. Bi-Cheng Liu, Institute of Nephrology, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing 210009, China.
E-mail: liubc64@163.com

How to cite this article: Cao JY, Zhou LT, Liu BC. Genomic biomarkers for chronic kidney disease: the first step towards personalized
medicine? J Transl Genet Genom 2019;3:4. https://doi.org/10.20517/jtgg.2018.16
Received: 26 Jun 2018 First Decision: 20 Nov 2018 Revised: 9 Dec 2018 Accepted: 10 Dec 2018 Published: 20 Feb 2019

Science Editor: Sheng-Ying Qin Copy Editor: Cui Yu Production Editor: Huan-Liang Wu

Abstract

With the prevalence of end stage renal disease steadily increasing, chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents an
impending public healthcare challenge. Classical diagnostic biomarkers of CKD, including creatinine, have low sensitivity
and specificity. Thus, novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for patients at high risk of early-stage progression are
urgently needed. Personalized medicine approaches generally stratify patients according to their biological or genomic
make-up. Targeted clinical trials require more precise identification of these subgroups. The use of new biomarkers
obtained via high-throughput technologies is expected in future, accompanied by vast improvements in computational
power applied in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics studies using biological fluids and renal biopsy tissue.
Genomic biomarkers may not only provide additional information regarding the etiology and mechanisms underlying
CKD progression, but may also enable early diagnosis and the selection of appropriate drugs, thereby personalizing
therapy. This review discusses commonly used research methods in genomic medicine and summarizes currently
available genomic biomarkers in inherited and acquired CKD.

Keywords: Genomics, biomarkers, chronic kidney disease, personalized medicine, end-stage renal disease, high-throughput
technology

INTRODUCTION
Chronic kidney disease (CKD), characterized by kidney damage and/or a decreased estimated glomerular
[1]
filtration rate (eGFR) over a period of at least 3 months, imposes a drastic public health burden worldwide .
CKD of various origins commonly proceeds through the renal fibrosis pathway, resulting in end-stage renal

© The Author(s) 2019. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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