Journal
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF KIDNEY DISEASES
Volume 52, Issue 3, Pages 595-605Publisher
W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC
DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2008.01.020
Keywords
neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin; kidney development; acute kidney injury; chronic kidney disease; proteinuria
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a protein belonging to the lipocalin superfamily initially found in activated neutrophils, in accordance with its role as an innate antibacterial factor. However, it subsequently was shown that many other types of cells, including in the kidney tubule, may produce NGAL in response to various injuries. The increase in NGAL production and release from tubular cells after harmful stimuli of various kinds may have self-defensive intent based on the activation of specific iron-dependent pathways, which in all probability also represent the mechanism through which NGAL promotes kidney growth and differentiation. NGAL levels predict the future appearance of acute kidney injury after treatments potentially detrimental to the kidney and even the acute worsening of unstable nephropathies. Furthermore, recent evidence also suggests that NGAL somehow may be involved in the pathophysiological process of chronic renal diseases, such as polycystic kidney disease and glomerulonelphritis. NGAL levels clearly correlate with severity of renal impairment, probably expressing the degree of active damage underlying the chronic condition. For all these reasons, NGAL may become one of the most promising next-generation biomarkers in clinical nephrology and beyond.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available