Comprehensive identification of immune-associated biomarkers based on network and mRNA expression patterns in membranous glomerulonephritis

Background Membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adult patients. Despite extensive evidences suggested that many immune-related genes could serve as effective biomarkers in MGN, the potential has not been sufficiently understood because of most previous studies have concentrated on individual gene and not the entire interaction network.