Uteroglobin gene polymorphism (G38A) as a potential risk factor for nephrotic syndrome in Egyptian children

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the most commonly diagnosed glomerular disorders, particularly in children and adolescents. The study aimed to explore the link between uteroglobin gene polymorphism rs41364547 (G38A) and serum uteroglobin level with the risk of nephrotic syndrome in Egyptian children. The current case-control research involved 100 children with NS and 100 healthy, age- and gender-matched controls. They were grouped into 45 steroid-sensitive (SSNS) and 55 steroid-resistant (SRNS) groups. The subjects were evaluated for uteroglobin (G38A) polymorphism using TaqMan genotyping and an ELISA to determine uteroglobin expression. There was a non-statistically relevant association between uteroglobin alleles, genotypes, and NS (P = 0.149, 0.288, respectively). Furthermore, there was no detectable variation in the genotypes and uteroglobin alleles between SSNS and SRNS (P = 0.803 and 0.8, respectively). In NS patients, uteroglobin levels were statistically lower than controls (p < 0.001). According to the ROC curve study, uteroglobin was an excellent discriminant between NS patients and control participants, with an AUC of 0.997. Lower serum uteroglobin is helpful in the diagnosis and prediction of NS. There is no statistically significant difference in the genotype distribution and allele frequencies between NS patients and the control subjects, as well as between SSNS and SRNS.