| abstract |
A method and kit for detecting the immediate or early onset of renal disease and injury, including renal tubular cell injury, utilizing NGAL as an immediate or early on-set biomarker in a sample of blood serum. NGAL is a small secreted polypeptide that is protease resistant and consequently readily detected in the blood serum following renal tubule cell injury. NGAL protein expression is detected predominantly in proximal tubule cells, in a punctuate cytoplasmic distribution reminiscent of a secreted protein. The appearance NGAL in the serum is related to the dose and duration of renal ischemia and nephrotoxemia, and is diagnostic of renal tubule cell injury and renal failure. NGAL detection is also a useful marker for monitoring the nephrotoxic side effects of drugs or other therapeutic agents. |