Mesothelin levels in urine are affected by glomerular leakage and tubular reabsorption

Hollevoet, Kevin; Speeckaert, Marijn M.; Decavele, An-Sofie; Vanholder, Raymond; van Meerbeeck, Jan P.; Delanghe, Joris R.

doi:10.1016/J.CLLC.2011.12.004

Title

Mesothelin levels in urine are affected by glomerular leakage and tubular reabsorption

Author

Hollevoet, Kevin

Speeckaert, Marijn M.

Decavele, An-Sofie

Vanholder, Raymond

van Meerbeeck, Jan P.

Delanghe, Joris R.

Abstract

Urinary mesothelin has recently gained interest as a diagnostic biomarker. We found that mesothelin levels in urine are affected by increased glomerular leakage and impaired tubular reabsorption, which can influence the interpretation of biomarker measurements. These effects need to be accounted for to improve further validation studies and the possible clinical use of urinary mesothelin. Background: Mesothelin is a soluble biomarker of malignant mesothelioma. Levels in serum, however, are also influenced by other factors, including age and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The measurement of mesothelin in urine has recently gained interest, but the renal handling of this protein has not been sufficiently examined. Patients and Methods: A total of 75 patients with benign kidney disease were prospectively included in the study. Mesothelin levels were measured in the serum and in the urine of all the participants by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Urinary albumin and alpha 1-microglobulin (A1M) levels, which are markers of glomerular leakage and of decreased tubular reabsorption, respectively, and the estimated GFR (eGFR) of each participant were obtained. All urine analyte levels were standardized (std) against urinary creatinine levels. Results: Absolute mesothelin levels in urine (median, 0.58 nmol/L; interquartile range [IQR] 0.25-1.03 nmol/L) were significantly lower than those in serum (median, 1.74 nmol/L; IQR, 1.35-2.43 nmon; P<.001). Urinary mesothelin(std), levels positively correlated with serum mesothelin (r=0.35, P<.01), albumin(std), (r=0.51, P<.001), and A1M(std) levels (r=0.71, P<.001). Neither age nor eGFR were associated with urinary mesothelin(std) levels. Similarly, multiple linear regression analysis indicated that only albuminstd and A1M(std) levels were significantly positively associated with the urinary mesothelin(std) levels (adjusted R-2=0.49). Conclusion: Mesothelin levels in urine are affected by impaired glomerular and tubular function, which can influence the interpretation of mesothelin measurements and might cause false-positive results. These effects need to be accounted for to improve the further validation and possible clinical use of urinary mesothelin.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Clinical lung cancer

Publication

2012

ISSN

1525-7304

DOI

10.1016/J.CLLC.2011.12.004

Volume/pages

13 :6 (2012) , p. 470-474