Kidneys donated by people with a small variation in the SHROOM3 gene may be more likely to accumulate scar tissue that contributes to kidney failure, according to a new study published online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The glitch, a single nucleotide polymorphism, appears more common in people of European descent.

If confirmed, researchers may be able to use the genetic marker to screen potential kidney donors and improve transplant outcomes. Preventing chronic allograft nephropathy due to scarring is paramount. Once researchers uncover the protein pathways that trigger fibrosis, it could lead to the creation of drugs to prevent this disease process.

Source

  1. Menon, MC, et al. J Clin Invest, 2014. doi:10.1172/JCI76902. 

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Transplantation