Urinary CD80: a biomarker for a favorable response to corticosteroids in minimal change disease

Abstract

Minimal Change Disease (MCD) is the most common type of nephrotic syndrome in children. The etiology has remained unknown, although it is commonly thought to be due to an unknown circulating factor that triggers podocyte dysfunction. To date, several changes in podocytes have been reported in MCD, of which one is the expression of CD80, also known as B7.1, which is a costimulatory molecule that is normally expressed on antigen -presenting cells. Some studies suggest that subjects with steroid-sensitive MCD may express CD80 in their podocytes during relapse and that this expression is associated with high urinary levels of CD80. Indeed, subjects with MCD in remission, or subjects with other glomerular diseases, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, have substantially lower levels of urinary CD80 excretion. A recent study has now reported that high levels of urinary CD80 may be a sensitive marker for steroid-sensitivity and that their presence is also associated with long-term preservation of renal function. Thus, urinary CD80 is emerging as a potential biomarker for steroid-responsiveness in children presenting with primary nephrotic syndrome.

CD80 Insights as Therapeutic Target in the Current and Future Treatment Options of Frequent-Relapse Minimal Change Disease

“…Abatacept (B7-1 blocker) should not be rushed to be introduced as treatment until ongoing research about CD80 provides more information [ 20 ]. The treatment of the B7-1 blocker as a potential treatment remains controversial because it is not consistent with other studies [ 17 ].…”

“…CD80, also known as B7-1, is generally expressed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in steroid-sensitive MCD patients. Various glomerular disease models associated with proteinuria have reported the detection of CD80 [ 17 ]. The activation of CD80 on APCs and its binding to the CD28 receptor on T cells have a crucial role in T cell activation [ 7 ].…”