Plasma Mucin-1 (CA15-3) Levels in Autosomal Dominant Tubulointerstitial Kidney Disease due to MUC1 Mutations

Am J Nephrol. 2021;52(5):378-387. doi: 10.1159/000515810. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with ADTKD-MUC1 have one allele producing normal mucin-1 (MUC1) and one allele producing mutant MUC1, which remains intracellular. We hypothesized that ADTKD-MUC1 patients, who have only 1 secretory-competent wild-type MUC1 allele, should exhibit decreased plasma mucin-1 (MUC1) levels. To test this hypothesis, we repurposed the serum CA15-3 assay used to measure MUC1 in breast cancer to measure plasma MUC1 levels in ADTKD-MUC1.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed CA15-3 levels in a reference population of 6,850 individuals, in 85 individuals with ADTKD-MUC1, and in a control population including 135 individuals with ADTKD-UMOD and 114 healthy individuals.

Results: Plasma CA15-3 levels (mean ± standard deviation) were 8.6 ± 4.3 U/mL in individuals with ADTKD-MUC1 and 14.6 ± 5.6 U/mL in controls (p < 0.001). While there was a significant difference in mean CA15-3 levels, there was substantial overlap between the 2 groups. Plasma CA15-3 levels were <5 U/mL in 22% of ADTKD-MUC1 patients, in 0/249 controls, and in 1% of the reference population. Plasma CA15-3 levels were >20 U/mL in 1/85 ADTKD-MUC1 patients, in 18% of control individuals, and in 25% of the reference population. Segregation of plasma CA15-3 levels by the rs4072037 genotype did not significantly improve differentiation between affected and unaffected individuals. CA15-3 levels were minimally affected by gender and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Discussion/conclusions: Plasma CA15-3 levels in ADTKD-MUC1 patients are approximately 40% lower than levels in healthy individuals, though there is significant overlap between groups. Further investigations need to be performed to see if plasma CA15-3 levels would be useful in diagnosis, prognosis, or assessing response to new therapies in this disorder.

Keywords: ADTKD-MUC1; Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease; CA15-3; Mucin-1; rs4072037.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alleles
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucin-1 / blood*
  • Mucin-1 / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / blood*
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / genetics
  • Prognosis
  • Uromodulin / genetics*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • MUC1 protein, human
  • Mucin-1
  • UMOD protein, human
  • Uromodulin