Novel Lipid Biomarkers of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology Based on Urinary Small Extracellular Vesicles: A Pilot Study of Sugar Cane Workers.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) disproportionately affects young male agricultural workers who are otherwise healthy. There is a scarcity of biomarkers for early detection of this type of kidney disease. We hypothesized that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) released into urine may provide novel biomarkers.

Methods

We obtained two urine samples at the start and the end of a workday in the fields from a limited set of workers with and without kidney impairment. Isolated sEVs were characterized for size, surface marker expression, and purity and, subsequently, their lipid composition was determined by mass spectrometry.

Results

The number of particles per ml of urine normalized to osmolality and the size variance were larger in

SUBMITTER: Zhou J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12388243 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature