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. 2025 May 8;26:230. doi: 10.1186/s12882-025-04120-4

Table 2.

Role of urinary exosomal protein as biomarkers for DN

Protein Level Type of diabetes Species No. of participants case/(control) Detection method of exosomal protein Comparing groups Disease condition Ref
TF Transferrin Type 2 Human 15 DM 3, 36 DM2, 74 DM 1, 19 HC

LC-MS/MS

Western blot

DKD (DM 3, DM 2) vs. DM 1 vs. HC ACR> 30 mg/g [77]
SERPINA1 Alpha-1 antitrypsin
AFM Afamin
CTSD Cathepsin D
PHYHD1 Phytanoyl-CoA dioxygenase domain containing 1 Type 2 Human 20 DN, 20 NDRD, 16 T2DM, 21 HC

DIA-MS data acquisition.

ELISA

DN vs. NDRD vs. T2DM vs. HC Kidney biopsy [78]
PAK6

Serine/threonine-protein kinase

Epidermal growth factor receptor

Type 2 Human 48/(48 T2DM, 48 HC)

LC-MS/MS

Western blot ELISA

DN vs. T2DM and HC

ACR> 30 mg/g;

eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m2

[79]
EGF Epidermal growth factor receptor

AMBP

MLL3

α-microglobulin/bikunin precursor

Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase

—– Human 8/(8)

LC–MS/MS

SRM

DN vs. HC

ACR> 30 mg/g.

eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m2

[70]
MLL3 Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase
VDAC1 Voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 1
Regucalcin (SMP30) Senescence marker protein-30 Type 2 Rat Human

……….

Urine 4/(3)

Tissue 7/(4)

2-dimensional DIGE

Western blot, IHC, SRM

STZ-induced diabetic rat with renal fibrosis vs. HC

DN vs. HC

eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m2

Urine protein excretion of ≥ 150 mg/24 h

[80]
WT-1 Wilm’s tumor-1 Type 1 Human

18/(30 DM, 25 HC)

WT1 detected in 19 out of 31

Western blot

Immunoblot

T1DM with proteinuria vs. T1DM without proteinuria and HC

T1DM

ACR> 30 mg/g.

Microalbumin >20 µg/min

[81]

[82]

PEPD Xaa-Pro dipeptidase Type 2 Rat 7/(7)

nLC-ESI-MS/MS

Immunoblotting

ZDF rats sacrificed after 12 weeks, 20 weeks vs. lean control  ...... [83]
MUP-1 Major Urinary Protein −1
AQP5, AQP2 Aquaporins Type 2 Human 12 DN, 12 DM, 11 NDN, 7 HC

ELISA

Western blot

DN vs. DM vs. NDN vs. HC Biopsy-proven [84]
UMOD Uromodulin Type 2 Human 22 Ma, 32 Mi, 46 No, 31 HC ELISA Ma vs. Mi vs. No vs. HC ACR> 30 mg/g [85]
CD 63 —– Human 8 Mi, 13 No Flow cytometry Mi vs. No UAER from 30,300 mg/24 h [86]
C-megalin Type 2 Human 19 Ma, 17 Mi, 20 No, 19 HC Immunoblotting Ma vs. Mi vs. No vs. HC ACR> 30 mg/g [87]

HC Healthy control, DN diabetic nephropathy, DM diabetes mellitus, DKD diabetic kidney disease, ACR albumin to creatinine ratio, eGFR estimated glomerular filtration rate, AER albumin excretion rate, No normoalbuminuria, Mi microalbuminuria, Ma macroalbuminuria, SRM selected reaction monitoring, LC-MS/MS liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, DIGE two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis, IHC immunohistochemistry, ZDF Zucker diabetic fatty rats, NDN non-diabetic nephropathy