High resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis of human urinary proteins Review Article

The use of high resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) for analysis of human urine is reviewed with particular reference to methodological developments, urinary protein mapping and clinical applications. The methodological aspects relate to sample collection and storage, desalting and concentration of the urinary proteins and the choice of 2-DE and detection method. Urinary protein mapping includes the source of the proteins and the identification of their 2-DE positional co-ordinates. The clinical applications include 2-DE of urine from patients with renal disease, Bence Jones proteinuria, cancers of the urogenital tract, nephrolithiasis, cadmium exposure, rheumatoid arthritis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Recent developments, including proteome analysis, are briefly discussed.