Increasing urinary podocyte mRNA excretion and progressive podocyte loss in kidney contribute to the high risk of long-term renal disease caused by preterm birth

Podocyte abnormalities are common mechanism driving the progression of glomerular diseases, which account for most chronic kidney diseases (CKDs). However, the role of podocyte in the mechanism of high-risk long-term CKD caused by prematurity has not been well clarified. In present study, urine samples of 86 preterm infants and 32 full-term infants were collected, and podocyte-specific podocin mRNA levels in urine pellet were applied to indicate urinary podocyte mRNA excretion. In addition, in a preterm animal rat model, preterm rats were identified by delivery 2 days early. From the age of 3 weeks–12 months, urine samples were collected to examine podocyte mRNA excretion by measuring podocyte-specific podocin mRNA levels. Kidney samples at the age of 3 weeks, 2 months, and 12 months were collected from 8, 5 and 6 preterm rats and 9, 6 and 8 full-term rats, respectively, to examine podocyte density and podocyte area by measuring the podocyte specific nuclear marker WT-1 and the podocyte specific marker synaptopodin. As results, a more than threefold increase of urinary podocyte-specific podocin mRNA excretion rate was found in preterm infants compared with full-term infants. In addition, there was negative correlation between gestational age at birth and urinary podocin mRNA excretion. In preterm rats, a reduction in the total number of differentiated podocytes in glomeruli and an increased podocyte podocin mRNA excretion rate in urine were detected at the end of kidney differentiation. Moreover, long-term follow-up data in preterm rats showed there was an increased the risk of renal disease indicated by persistent podocyte mRNA loss, proteinuria, and enlarged glomeruli. In conclusion, increasing podocyte mRNA excretion in urine and podocyte loss in kidney led by prematurity drive the progression of long-term abnormal kidney function and could potentially explain the high risk of long-term CKD in preterm infants.