Affiliations: From Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Prince
of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong,
China | Department of Anatomical & Cellular Pathology,
Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong
Kong, China
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. C.-C. Szeto, Department of Medicine &
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: Evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNA) play a role in
the pathogenesis of chronic kidney diseases (CKD). We explored the possibility
of using urinary miRNA as non-invasive biomarkers for CKD. Methods: We quantified miRNA expression in urinary sediment of 56
CKD patients who underwent kidney biopsy. Patients were followed for 16.2
± 15.5 months. Results: Patients with diabetic glomerulosclerosis had lower urinary
miR-15 expression, while those with IgA nephropathy had higher urinary miR-17
expression, than other diagnosis groups. Baseline proteinuria had significant
inverse correlation with urinary expression of miR-15, miR-192, and miR-216a;
baseline renal function correlated with urinary expression of miR-15, miR-17,
miR-192, and miR-217. The rate of renal function decline correlated with
urinary expression of miR-21 (r=0.301, p=0.026) and miR-216a (r=0.515, p <
0.0001). Patients with a high urinary expression of miR-21 and miR-216a had
better dialysis-free survival than those with low expression (log rank test,
p=0.005 and p=0.003, respectively). Conclusions: Urinary miR-21 and miR-216a expression correlated with
the rate of renal function decline and risk of progression to
dialysis-dependent renal failure. Our results suggest that urinary miRNA
profiling has the potential of further development as biomarkers of CKD.
