Integrative proteogenomic analyses implicate KLK13 as a glycaemia-linked circulating protein in diabetic kidney disease
Authors' conclusion
KLK13 was prioritized as a glycaemia-linked circulating protein associated with DKD, implicating protease-inhibitor biology in DKD progression.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants without baseline diabetic kidney disease (DKD); 2,923 plasma proteins screened for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)-driven effectsUK Biobank
- Participants
- 9,936 participants
- Outcome
- Incident DKD
Methodological detailscis-pQTL-based SMR, deCODE protein genome-wide association study (GWAS) validation, prospective UK Biobank analysis, semaglutide-associated proteomic assessment
- cis-pQTL-based SMR
- deCODE protein GWAS validation
- Prospective UK Biobank analysis
- Semaglutide-associated proteomic assessment
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Proteins associated with genetically predicted HbA1c
- Fifty
- Proteins supported by independent HbA1c datasets
- 10
- KLK13, protein-to-DKD (deCODE validation), OR
- 1.13 (95% CI 1.02-1.24)
- Higher KLK13 and incident DKD, HR
- 1.52 (95% CI 1.13-2.06)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Incident DKD in UK Biobank
- Developed incident DKD
- 107
SPINK6 and incident DKD
- SPINK6, HR
- 2.02 (95% CI 1.49-2.74)
KLK13 with semaglutide
- KLK13 decreased with semaglutide, but attenuated after weight and HbA1c adjustment
Original publication
Integrative proteogenomic analyses implicate KLK13 as a glycaemia-linked circulating protein in diabetic kidney disease. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. Published 19 May 2026. doi:10.
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