Invitrogen Launches Biomarker Tool for Pre-Clinical Research into Kidney Function

Invitrogen, part of Life Technologies Corporation, announced the global availability of a new biomarker tool for use in pre-clinical research into kidney function. The PlexMark™ 3 Renal Biomarker Panel Assay is a non-invasive and cost-effective research tool for performing post-transplantation kidney function studies rapidly and easily. The introduction of this research tool is expected to help in the development of studies which may lead to more effective methods for monitoring kidney health in transplant research.

This new assay provides researchers with an alternative to invasive and expensive procedures, such as biopsies, used to obtain kidney tissue samples to allow research into post-transplantation kidney function. The PlexMark 3 Renal Biomarker Panel Assay measures levels of cytokines, chemokines and receptor levels in urine, which give researchers a better understanding of immune function and response. This may lead to the development of new, non-invasive tests to monitor kidney function and health following transplant procedures.

The PlexMark assay uses Luminex® xMAP® multiplexing technology for bioassay analysis, in a standard immunoassay format to offer ease-of-use, sensitivity and rapid, reproducible results. The biomarkers in the PlexMark panel are licensed from Renovar Inc, a pioneer in the development of new tools for assessing kidney inflammation for numerous clinical indications.

Dr Brian D Shames, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin
“Development of a non-invasive test that could help differentiate between acute renal injury, rejection and infection would satisfy a critical unmet need in transplantation. A biomarker test that can accomplish this would be of extreme importance in pre-clinical kidney transplantation research.”

Jim Janicki, Vice President and General Manager of Life Technologies’ Transplantation Diagnostics Business
“The launch of the PlexMark assay represents the continued expansion of our pre-clinical research business. We are excited about the non-invasive and cost-effective nature of PlexMark, and anticipate that research clinicians will want to utilise this product to better understand immunosuppression as it relates to whole kidney function.”