In order to detect early signs of kidney damage, researchers attached a fluorescent label on a human monoclonal antibody that targets a damaged collagen that can indicate kidney disease. The tagging method was effective in mice and in tissue taken from diseased human kidneys, according to a study published in Kidney International. For humans, the labeled antibodies need to be used with an advanced imaging method such as PET to allow for comprehensive evaluation of both kidneys, a researcher said. The antibody also shows potential for targeted delivery of drugs such as prostaglandin E2, which was shown in an American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology study to be effective in restoring kidney function of mice.
Published in Brief: