title: Expression of microRNAs in the urinary sediment of patients with IgA nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) regulate one-third of all protein-coding genes and are fundamental in the pathophysiology of a wide range of diseases. We studied the expression of several miRNA species (miR-200 family, miR-205 and miR-192) in the urinary sediment of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 43 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN. Urinary expression of miRNAs was determined and compared to that from 13 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of urinary miR-200a, miR-200b and miR-429, but not miR-200c, miR-141, miR-205, or miR-192, were down-regulated in patients with IgAN. Proteinuria significantly correlated with urinary expression of miR-200a (r= -0.483, P < 0.001), miR-200b (r= -0.448, P=0.001) and miR-429 (r=-0.466, P=0.001). Baseline renal function significantly correlated with urinary expression of miR-200b (r= 0.512, P < 0.001) and miR-429 (r=0.425, P=0.005). Urinary gene expression of ZEB2 inversely correlated with miR-200b (r=-0.321, P=0.017); and vimentin expression inversely correlated with that of miR-200a (r=-0.360, P=0.007), miR-200b (r=-0.416, $P =$ 0.002) and miR-429 (r=-0.375, P=0.005). After 33.4 +/- 12.6 months, the rate of renal function decline significantly correlated with urinary expression of miR-200b (r=0.316, P=0.034).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinary expression of miR-200a, miR-200b and miR-429 were down-regulated in patients with IgAN, and the degree of reduction correlated with disease severity and rate of progression. The results suggested that these miRNA species might play important roles in the pathophysiology of IgAN. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of urinary miRNA repression as a non-invasive marker of IgAN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bonnie Ching-Ha
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: Fernand Mac-Moune
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Kai-Ming
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kam-Tao Li
authors.forename: Cheuk-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Szeto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C533896:MIRN200 microRNA, human; C546363:MIRN429 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs