Expression of TNFRSF6B in kidneys is a novel predictor for progression of chronic kidney disease

TNFRSF6B overexpression in tumors is a novel predictor for poor prognosis in various cancers; however, whether TNFRSF6B could be expressed in kidney tissues of patients with chronic kidney disease is unknown. Current established risk factors cannot fully predict the progression of chronic kidney disease, and, therefore, it is mandatory to develop a newer marker for predicting disease progression. We conducted a prospective cohort study comprised 167 patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing renal biopsy at a tertiary hospital with median follow-up of 30.5 months. Computer-assisted quantitative immunohistochemical staining analysis of TNFRSF6B in kidney tissues, the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and percentage of fibrosis in renal interstitium, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and urinary protein excretion rate were investigated. Study endpoint was a doubling of serum creatinine and/or end-stage renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy. We found that TNFRSF6B was predominantly expressed in the tubular epithelial cells of renal cortex. The higher the expression of TNFRSF6B, the more the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and fibrosis in interstitium (P