Urinary extracellular vesicles in kidney transplant rejection
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pilot study to develop a test for rejection using urinary extracellular vesicles in paediatric kidney transplantation
IRAS ID
329226
Contact name
Maarten Taal
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Transplantation is the best treatment for patients with kidney failure. Children and young people (CYP) with kidney transplantation live longer and have better quality of life compared to their peers remaining on dialysis. The average lifespan of a kidney transplant is 12-15 years and this has not improved in the last 20 years. Despite modern medication, the main cause of transplant failure is rejection by the body's immune system.
Currently, the only way to diagnose rejection is by performing a kidney biopsy. This involves inserting a fine needle into the kidney transplant and is therefore an invasive procedure, particularly for CYP. In this pilot study, we want to develop a test which can be used to detect rejection in urine. In particular, urine contains millions of extracellular vesicles - microscopic particles which are released from cells, including the cells which cause rejection. Our team has established a protocol to isolate these extracellular vesicles and analyse the metabolites within them (metabolomics). Urine samples will be collected when patients undergo a kidney biopsy for clinical indications. No additional biopsies will be undertaken for research purposes and we will not be collecting biopsy samples, only the urine samples. We will analyse the urine samples in patients with proven rejection and compare them to patients with no rejection. To ensure the new test is accurate, we will also collect urine samples from healthy children and children who are taking immunosuppression (medicines to control the immune system) for comparison.
Having a urine test will make it easier to monitor for kidney transplant rejection and hopefully also detect it earlier.
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/1551
Date of REC Opinion
17 Dec 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion