title: Urinary fatty acids and liver-type fatty acid binding protein in diabetic nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this clinical study were to investigate the associations of urinary free fatty acid (FFA) levels with tubulointerstitial damage, and to determine the clinical significance of urinary liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) in diabetic nephropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with nephrotic syndrome due to diabetic nephropathy and 12 patients with minimal-change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) were studied. Urinary and serum FFA concentrations (palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidonic acids) were measured by gas chromatography, and urinary L-FABP levels were quantified using an ELISA technique. Tubulointerstitial damage was assessed using renal biopsy specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of urinary linoleic and arachidonic acids were significantly elevated in diabetic nephropathy compared to MCNS patients, though serum FFA levels were lower in diabetic nephropathy than MCNS patients. The degree of tubulointerstitial damage was significantly severer in the patients with diabetic nephropathy than MCNS. Urinary L-FABP and 8-OHdG (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine) concentrations were significantly higher in the diabetic nephropathy subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated urinary excretion of FFA may be a reflection of FFA overload in the proximal tubules, and FFA may be an important promoter of tubulointerstitial damage in diabetic nephropathy patients. Urinary L-FABP levels may reflect the stress induced by FFA to the proximal tubules, leading to severe tubulointerstitial damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamijo-Ikemori
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugaya
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Jyunki
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine*; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000652:urine*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C493319:FABP1 protein, human; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified