Japanese researchers from Osaka and Kyushu Universities have uncovered biomarkers that could identify chronic kidney disease patients at risk of progressing to kidney failure. Earlier studies have found a correlation between kidney function and D-amino acids. These somewhat elusive mirror images of L-amino acids have been found in trace amounts in the blood, but they are difficult to measure. In this new study, scientists developed a sensitive process to analyze blood samples from 108 CKD patients, detecting 16 out of 21 D-amino acids; they found that higher levels of two in particular—D-Serine and D-Asparagine—were linked with disease progression. Although there is more to learn about the physiological function and metabolism of D-amino acids, the researchers believe the discovery could lead to better intervention and personalized treatments for at-risk patients.
Sources:
Discovery of Biomarkers for the Prognosis of Chronic Kidney Disease, Medical Xpress, July 27, 2016
Chiral Amino Acid Metabolomics for Novel Biomarker Screening in the Prognosis of Chronic Kidney Disease, Scientific Reports 6, Article number: 26137 (2016)