Nephrin and podocin mRNA detection in urine sediment of dogs with chronic kidney disease: preliminary observations

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Results for blood haematological parameters in healthy dogs and dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at different stages

		CKD dogs
Parameter (reference range)	Healthy dogs (n = 10)	Stage 1 or 2 (n = 5)	Stage 3 or 4 (n = 9)
RBC (106/μL) (5.5–8.5)	6.7 ± 0.35	6.7 ± 0.49	4.7 ± 0.36**
HGB (g/dL) (12–18)	17.3 ± 0.83	16.7 ± 1.17	11.6 ± 0.88**
HCT (%) (37–55)	50.1 ± 2.49	49.7 ± 3.52	34.9 ± 2.63**
MCV (fL) (60–77)	75.2 ± 1.49	75.0 ± 2.11	75.2 ± 1.57
MCH (pg) (21–26)	26.0 ± 0.58	25.2 ± 0.82	25.0 ± 0.61
MCHC (%) (32–36)	34.6 ± 0.44	33.7 ± 0.62	33.2 ± 0.47
PLT (103/μL) (200–500)	307 ± 57.60	386 ± 39.7	378 ± 64.0
RBC morphology	normal	normal	normal
WBC (103/μL) (6–17)	7.1 ± 0.63	8.8 ± 1.35	7.5 ± 1.02
WBC morphology	normal	normal	normal

Results for blood biochemical parameters in healthy dogs and dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at different stages

		CKD dogs
Parameter (reference range)	Healthy dogs (n = 10)	Stage 1 or 2 (n = 5)	Stage 3 or 4 (n = 9)
Albumin (g/dL) (2.3–3.8)	3.2 ± 0.16	2.8 ± 0.23	2.7 ± 0.20
Urea (mg/dL) (10–60)	39.4 ± 5.36	47.3 ± 13.48	259.4 ± 46.70*
Creatinine (mg/dL) (0.5–1.4)	1.1 ± 0.14	1.0 ± 0.17	7.4 ± 2.34*

Semi-quantitative analysis of detection of NPHS1 (nephrin mRNA) and NPHS2 (podocin mRNA) in urine sediment samples from healthy dogs and dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at different stages

		CKD dogs
Parameter	Healthy dogs	Stage 1 or 2	Stage 3 or 4	P value
NPHS1 detection	4/10 (40%) a	3/5 (60%) b	1/9 (11%) c	0.0009
NPHS2 detection	2/10 (20%) a	4/5 (80%) b	1/9 (11%) a	0.0188

Results for routine urinary parameters in healthy dogs and dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at different stages

		CKD dogs
Parameter (reference range)	Healthy dogs (n = 10)	Stage 1 or 2 (n = 5)	Stage 3 or 4 (n = 9)
USG (1.015–1.045)	1.037 ± 0.0040	1.022 ± 0.0074*	1.014 ± 0.0009**
Protein (mg/dL)	29.4 ± 2.44	210.6 ± 11.67***	124.0 ± 35.76*
Creatinine (mg/dL)	206.1 ± 24.00	94.4 ± 21.47**	70.0 ± 21.47**
UPC (< 0.5)	0.15 ± 0.01	2.25 ± 0.68*	1.76 ± 0.50*
Chemical analysis
(semiquantitative testing):
pH (6.0–7.5)	6.5 ± 0.37	6.4 ± 0.52	5.9 ± 0.39
Protein	between 0 and 1+	between 1 and 3+	between 1 and 2+
Glucose	negative	negative	negative
Ketones	negative	negative	negative
Bilirubin	negative	negative	negative
Urobilinogen	normal	normal	normal
Occult blood	negative	1+ in the urinary sediment of 1 dog	1+ in the urinary sediment of 2 dogs
Microscopic sediment
examination:
Epithelial cells/HPF (<3)	1.70 ± 0.26	1.00 ± 0.22	1.44 ± 0.43
Granular cast/HPF (<1)	rare in the urinary sediment of 1 dog	none	rare in the urinary sediment of 1 dog
Triple phosphate crystal	1+ in the urinary sediment of 2 dogs	2+ in the urinary sediment of 1 dog	none
Amorphous phosphate crystal	none	none	2+ in the urinary sediment of 1 dog
RBC/HPF (<5)	0.30 ± 0.13	0.30 ± 0.20	0.56 ± 0.49
WBC/HPF (<5)	0.50 ± 0.18	0.60 ± 0.25	0.83 ± 0.25
Bacteria	none	none	none

Semi-quantitative analysis of renal ultrasonographic abnormalities in dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at different stages

	CKD dogs
Parameter	Stage 1 or 2	Stage 3 or 4	P value
Irregular contour	5/5 (100%)	6/9 (67%)	<0.0001
Loss of corticomedullary differentiation	4/5 (80%)	8/9 (89%)	0.1170
Increased cortical echogenicity	4/5 (80%)	8/9 (89%)	0.1170
Increased medullary echogenicity	0/5	5/9 (56%)	0.0197