Identification and characterization of stone-associated glycoproteins and proteomic studies of stone-containing kidneys and urine in kidney stone patients
1. To isolate proteins from stone matrix and identify the stone-associated glycoproteins using chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry
2. To verify stone-associated glycoproteins and localize them in the stone-containing renal tissues using western blot and immunohistochemistry, and confirm their transcript expression using RT-PCR
3. To determine urinary levels of stone-associated glycoproteins and evaluate their clinical significance in nephrolithiasis patients
4. To examine the roles of stone-associated glycoproteins isolated from stone matrix and urine in the lithogenic process using in vitro crystallization and aggregation assays
5. To analyze renal and urinary proteomes of nephrolithiasis patients
6. To determine candidate stone biomarkers in urine and evaluate their diagnostic values
