Transcriptome profile of leukocyte RNA from children with steroid sensitive and resistant nephrotic syndrome

Glucocorticoid resistance complicates the treatment of ~20% of children with nephrotic syndrome, yet the molecular basis for resistance remains unclear. We generated the transcriptome profile by RNA sequencing of peripheral blood leukocytes from children obtained both at initial nephrotic syndrome presentation and after ~7 weeks of glucocorticoid therapy to identify genes or a gene panel able to differentiate steroid sensitive from steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome. RNA -seq analysis was followed by in-silico algorithm-based approaches and subsequent biochemical analyses on relevant candidate gene with important roles in podocyte and glomerular pathophysiology, using both patient samples and experimental models of nephrotic syndrome and podocyte injury. RNA sequencing to differentiate steroid sensitive from steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome from 28 patients, with 16 steroid sensitive and 12 steroid resistant