Affiliations: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of
Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong,
China | Division of Nephrology, Sichuan Academy of Medical
Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan,
China
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. C.C. Szeto, Department of Medicine and
Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong,
Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China. Tel.: +852 2632 3126; Fax: +852 2637 3852;
E-mail: ccszeto@cuhk.edu.hk
Abstract: Background: The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in peritoneal transport
is uncertain. Methods: We studied 82 new peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, 22
prevalent patients without ultrafiltration problem, and 6 patients with
documented ultrafiltration problem. Peritoneal transport was determined by
standard peritoneal equilibration test (PET). RNA was extracted from the PD
effluent after PET, and intra-peritoneal expression of miRNA targets were
quantified. Results: There were significant difference in the PDE expressions of
miR-15a and miR-21. There were modest inverse correlations between
ultrafiltration volume and PDE expression of miR-17 (r= −0.198, p =0.041)
and miR-377 (r=−0.201, p=0.041). There was an inverse correlations
between dialysate-to-plasma creatinine concentration at 4 hours and PDE
expression of miR-192 (r=−0.199, p=0.040); while mass transfer area
coefficient of creatinine correlated with PDE expression of miR-192
(r=−0.191, p=0.049) and miR-377 (r=0.201, p=0.041). Amongst 7 randomly
selected patients who had repeat PET after one year, there was a significant
correlation between baseline PDE expression of miR-377 and change in
ultrafiltration volume (r=−0.852, p=0.015). Conclusion: The miRNA expression in PDE, including miR-15a, miR-17,
miR-21, miR-30, miR-192, and miR-377, correlated with peritoneal transport
characteristics. Our result suggests that miRNA may play a role in the
regulation of peritoneal membrane function.
Keywords: Gene expression, chronic renal failure, peritoneal equilibration test
