title: Urinary sediment miRNA levels in adult nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MicroRNAs are a group of non-coding RNA molecules that play important roles in the pathogenesis of various kidney diseases. We investigate the urinary sediment miRNA levels of adult patients with nephrotic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We study 20 patients with diabetic glomerulosclerosis (DGS), 21 with minimal change nephropathy (MCN) or focal glomerulosclerosis (FGS), 23 with membranous nephropathy (MGN), and 10 healthy controls. Urinary sediment miRNA levels are quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urinary sediment miR-29a, miR-192, and miR-200c levels were significantly different between diagnosis groups. Post hoc analysis showed that urinary miR-638 level was significantly lower in all causes of nephrotic syndrome than healthy controls, while the DGS group had lower urinary miR-192 level than other diagnosis groups. In contrast, the MCN/FGS group had higher urinary miR-200c level than other diagnosis groups. For each specific pathology group, urinary level of several miRNA targets significantly correlated with kidney function and histological scarring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinary miR-29a, miR-192 and miR-200c levels have characteristic alterations among patients with different causes of nephrotic syndrome. Our results suggest that urinary miRNA levels have the potential of being developed as the diagnosis tool and marker of disease severity in adult nephrotic syndrome.
authors: Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors: Gang
authors: G
authors: Wang
authors: Bonnie Ching-Ha
authors: BC
authors: Kwan
authors: Fernand Mac-Moune
authors: FM
authors: Lai
authors: Kai-Ming
authors: KM
authors: Chow
authors: Philip Kam-Tao
authors: PK
authors: Li
authors: Cheuk-Chun
authors: CC
authors: Szeto
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs