Multiomic profiling of new-onset kidney function decline: insights from the STANISLAS study cohort with a 20-year follow-up

Background Identifying the biomarkers associated with new-onset glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decrease in an initially healthy population could offer a better understanding of kidney function decline and help improving the patients’ management. Methods Here we described the proteomic and transcriptomic footprints associated with new-onset kidney function decline in an initially healthy and well-characterized population with a 20-year follow-up. This study was based on 1087 individuals from the familial longitudinal STANISLAS cohort who attended both visit 1 (from 1993 to 1995) and visit 4 (from 2011 to 2016). New-onset kidney function decline was approached both in quantitative (GFR slope for each individual) and qualitative (defined as a decrease in GFR of more than 15 mL/min/1.7m2) ways. We analyzed associations of 445 proteins measured both at visit 1 and visit 4 using Olink Proseek® panels and 119 765 genes expressions measured at visit 4 with GFR decline. Associations were assessed using multivariable models. Bonferroni correction was applied. Results We found several proteins (including PLC, PGF, members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily), genes (including CCL18, SESN3) and a newly discovered miRNA—mRNA pair (MIR1205–DNAJC6) to be independently associated with new-onset kidney function decline. Complex network analysis highlighted both extracellular matrix and cardiovascular remodeling (since visit 1) as well as inflammation (at visit 4) as key features of early GFR decrease. Conclusions These findings lay the foundation to further assess whether the proteins and genes herein identified may represent potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets to prevent renal function impairment.