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Kidney Disease: Molecular Insights and Emerging Therapies
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Kidney Disease: Molecular Insights and Emerging Therapies

A Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067) belonging to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2027 | Viewed by 2488

Editor

Dr. Yaochun Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Paediatrics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Interests: genetic kidney disease; next-generation sequencing (NGS); nanopore long-read sequencing; transgenic animal models; functional studies (ACMG PS3/BS3 criteria)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Kidney diseases represent a growing global health burden, with limited therapeutic options to halt or reverse disease progression. This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest discoveries in the molecular mechanisms underlying kidney pathologies and to feature cutting-edge therapeutic strategies under investigation. We welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews that elucidate key cellular pathways, molecular regulatory networks, and pathogenic variants contributing to the development and progression of kidney diseases.

Particular emphasis will be placed on translational studies exploring innovative therapeutic approaches, including gene therapy platforms such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing, RNA-targeting therapies, and other molecular interventions. Studies employing advanced experimental models—such as transgenic animals, organoids, or patient-derived cell systems—to validate novel targets and therapeutic mechanisms are especially encouraged. By bridging molecular insights with therapeutic innovation, this Special Issue seeks to foster the development of precise and effective treatments for both inherited and acquired forms of kidney disease.

Dr. Yaochun Zhang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • kidney disease
  • molecular mechanism
  • precision medicine
  • translational nephrology
  • targeted molecular therapy

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 745 KB  
Article
Early Biohumoral Detection of Acute Kidney Injury After Robotic Renal Surgery and Its Impact on Medium-Term Renal Function
by Raffaele La Mura, Alessio Paladini, Paolo Mangione, Guido Massa, Jessica Pagnotta, Federico Ricci, Matteo Mearini, Giuseppe Giardino, Andrea Vitale, Ettore Mearini and Giovanni Cochetti
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(8), 3515; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27083515 - 14 Apr 2026
Viewed by 826
Abstract
Renal surgery for localized renal cell carcinoma carries substantial risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) regardless of surgical approach. This prospective study evaluated early biohumoral markers for AKI detection after robotic renal surgery and assessed their prognostic value for 12-month functional outcomes. Adults [...] Read more.
Renal surgery for localized renal cell carcinoma carries substantial risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) regardless of surgical approach. This prospective study evaluated early biohumoral markers for AKI detection after robotic renal surgery and assessed their prognostic value for 12-month functional outcomes. Adults undergoing robotic renal tumor surgery with a healthy contralateral kidney were enrolled; AKI followed KDIGO 2012 criteria. Biomarkers measured at baseline and 2/24/72 h were serum β2-microglobulin (sβ2) serum IL-6, as well as urinary β2-microglobulin (uβ2), cystatin C (uC), and α2-macroglobulin (uα2M). Kidney function at 12 months was staged according to KDOQI criteria. Among 170 patients (35 radical nephrectomy, RN; 135 partial nephrectomy, PN), 33 developed AKI, more frequently after RN (p < 0.001); baseline biomarkers levels were similar. sβ2 was significantly higher at 2/24/72 h, and at 2 h, it achieved an AUC of 0.78 (cut-off 0.17: sensitivity 82%, specificity 60%), remaining the earliest independent predictor of AKI (p = 0.015). IL-6 differed at 24 h (AUC 0.80), uC at 72 h (AUC 0.73) and uβ2 at 72 h (AUC 0.66). Clinical AKI predicted KDOQI stage progression at 12 months (p < 0.001). Bulldog clamps (mean ischemia time 17.2 ± 6.9 min) were not associated with AKI (p = 0.99) or with KDOQI stage progression (p = 0.54). RN confers a higher AKI risk than PN. sβ2 at 2 h is the earliest actionable marker, complemented by IL-6 (24 h) and uC (72 h); short warm ischemia during robotic PN appears safe. Sequential multimarker assessment may improve recognition of AKI and support timely nephroprotective strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Kidney Disease: Molecular Insights and Emerging Therapies)
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16 pages, 1746 KB  
Case Report
Setmelanotide Response Variability in Two Genetically Confirmed Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients with Bardet–Biedl Syndrome
by Antonia Kondou, Pavlos Siolos, Georgia Sotiriou, Charalampos Agakidis, John Dotis, Athanasios Christoforidis and Nikoleta Printza
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(17), 7740; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27177740 - 29 Aug 2026
Viewed by 217
Abstract
Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a genetically heterogeneous ciliopathy associated with hyperphagic obesity and kidney disease. Evidence on setmelanotide after pediatric kidney transplantation is limited. We evaluated two children with BBS treated with setmelanotide after kidney transplantation, collecting anthropometric, hunger, metabolic, graft-function, cyclosporine and [...] Read more.
Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a genetically heterogeneous ciliopathy associated with hyperphagic obesity and kidney disease. Evidence on setmelanotide after pediatric kidney transplantation is limited. We evaluated two children with BBS treated with setmelanotide after kidney transplantation, collecting anthropometric, hunger, metabolic, graft-function, cyclosporine and genetic data. Patient 1, a 17-year-old boy with a homozygous pathogenic SDCCAG8 exon deletion, improved over 12 months: weight 55.6 to 48.0 kg, BMI 26.6 to 23.0 kg/m2, BMI-for-age z-score +1.60 to +0.43, maximal-hunger score 8/10 to 5/10, and HbA1c 6.5% to 5.1%. Patient 2, an 8-year-old girl with a homozygous likely pathogenic BBS5 splice-site variant and a heterozygous PCSK1 N221D variant, showed reduced hunger and an initial z-score fall from +6.10 to +5.69 by month 2.5, meeting the 0.2-point threshold for clinically meaningful change; this was not sustained, and BMI rose from 38.0 to 42.7 kg/m2 by eight months despite a dose of 3 mg/day. Graft function and cyclosporine trough concentrations remained stable, and skin hyperpigmentation was the only treatment-related adverse effect. In these two patients, setmelanotide was not associated with graft deterioration or altered cyclosporine trough concentrations, although two cases cannot establish safety. The divergent trajectories highlight interindividual variability; the role of PCSK1 N221D remains uncertain, and these observations are hypothesis-generating. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Kidney Disease: Molecular Insights and Emerging Therapies)
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11 pages, 354 KB  
Case Report
Dynamic Changes in Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in a Child with Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome: A Longitudinal Case Study
by Joško Osredkar and Matjaž Kopač
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010216 - 24 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 813
Abstract
Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is the most prevalent glomerular illness in children. Even while immunologic processes are well-established, oxidative stress is becoming more widely acknowledged as a significant factor in the etiopathogenesis of illness. Assessing its activity and treatment response may be made [...] Read more.
Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is the most prevalent glomerular illness in children. Even while immunologic processes are well-established, oxidative stress is becoming more widely acknowledged as a significant factor in the etiopathogenesis of illness. Assessing its activity and treatment response may be made easier with the use of trustworthy, non-invasive indicators to track redox balance. We report on the oxidative stress levels of a 10.7-year-old boy with INS with five clinical time points in one year. The FRAS5 analyzer was used to calculate the oxidative stress index (OSI), plasma antioxidant capacity (PAT) and derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) as biomarkers. A 4-tier oxidative state classification scheme based on d-ROM and PAT thresholds was used to interpret the values. The patient had low antioxidant defense, moderate oxidative and increased OSI at relapses, a positive transition to reduced oxidative burden and enhanced defense during remission. The order of events showed a dynamic redox response associated with glucocorticoid (GC) medication and disease activity. The potential value of d-ROM, PAT, and OSI as dynamic biomarkers for tracking disease activity, response to treatment and residual oxidative burden in pediatric INS is supported by this case. To confirm their function in more comprehensive clinical decision-making, more research is required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Kidney Disease: Molecular Insights and Emerging Therapies)
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