MicroRNA-21 protects from mesangial cell proliferation induced by diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice.
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major diabetic complication. But the initiating molecular events triggering DN are unknown. Recent researches have addressed the role of microRNAs in diabetes and its complications. In this study, we looked for microRNAs expression during early DN, and showed microRNA-21 (miR-21) expression was downregulated in response to early DN in vitro and in vivo. Over-expression of miR-21 inhibited proliferation of mesangial cells and decreased the 24-h urine albumin excretion rate in diabetic db/db mice. Moreover, we identified PTEN as a target of miR-21. We also found PI3K and p-Akt increased in miR-21 treated mesangial cells and db/db mice. Overall, these studies for the first time provide evidence for the potential role of miR-21 in early DN.
Zhang
Zheng
Z
Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. zhangzheng92@163.com
Peng
Huimin
H
Chen
Junxia
J
Chen
Xin
X
Han
Fei
F
Xu
Xiaoming
X
He
Xiaoyan
X
Yan
Ning
N
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D050527:Mesangial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000235:genetics; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014162:Transfection
C531950:MIRN21 microRNA, mouse; D035683:MicroRNAs; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C487757:Pten protein, mouse