Proteomic Identification of Novel Proteins in Primary and Secondary Membranous Nephropathy Using Laser Microdissection and Mass Spectrometry

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a major cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults and is defined by subepithelial immune complex deposits along the glomerular basement membrane. While primary (or idiopathic) MN often involves known autoantigens such as PLA2R and THSD7A, secondary MN can be associated with autoimmune diseases, infections (for example, hepatitis B or C), malignancies, and certain medications. Despite these discoveries, the detailed mechanisms underlying both primary and secondary MN remain insufficiently understood.　Recently, advances in liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) have facilitated more extensive proteomic analyses, enabling the identification of potential novel proteins tied to MN pathogenesis. Such findings may not only enhance our understanding of the disease mechanisms involved in both primary and secondary MN but also guide future diagnostic and therapeutic innovations.

膜性肾病（Membranous nephropathy, MN）是成人肾病综合征的主要病因，其病理特征为沿肾小球基底膜形成上皮下免疫复合物沉积。原发性（或特发性）膜性肾病通常与PLA2R、THSD7A等已知自身抗原相关；继发性膜性肾病则可继发于自身免疫病、感染（如乙型或丙型肝炎）、恶性肿瘤及某些药物。尽管已有上述研究进展，但原发性与继发性膜性肾病的具体发病机制仍未得到充分阐明。近年来，液相色谱-质谱联用法（liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, LC-MS）的技术进步推动了更全面的蛋白质组学分析，助力研究人员识别出与膜性肾病发病机制相关的潜在新型蛋白。此类研究成果不仅可加深我们对原发性与继发性膜性肾病发病机制的理解，还可为未来的诊断与治疗创新提供指导。