Differentially expressed microRNAs in kidney biopsies from various subtypes of nephrotic children

• We examine the expression levels of five miRNAs in kidney biopsies from nephrotic children.
• MiR-191 and miR-151-3p are higher and lower in various subtypes of kidney diseases, respectively.
• MiR-150 is significantly different between MCD and some other subtypes.
• Studied miRNAs correlate significantly with some renal functions and immune parameters.
• Some target genes of these miRNAs are associated with immune and renal pathological changes.

BackgroundOur previous study showed a set of increased miRNAs in serum or urine from nephrotic syndrome children. In this study, we investigated the renal expression of these miRNAs in nephrotic children and explored their role in pathogenesis and as potential indicators to differentiate subtypes of kidney diseases.MethodsWe enrolled 52 children with six different subtypes of nephropathy, and 8 normal kidney tissues were used as controls. RT-qPCR was used to quantify the expression of miR-191, miR-151-3p, miR-150, miR-30a-5p and miR-19b in renal tissues.ResultsmiR-191 and miR-151-3p exhibited significantly higher and lower intrarenal expression in all six subtypes of kidney diseases compared to controls. miR-19b was upregulated in three subtypes, and miR-30a-5p and miR-150 were downregulated in two and four subtypes, respectively. The intrarenal expression of miR-150 was significantly different between minimal change disease (MCD) and some other subtypes. The renal levels of these miRNAs correlated significantly with some renal functions and immune parameters. Bioinformatics showed that some target genes of these miRNAs were associated with immune and renal pathological changes.ConclusionsThese five miRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of nephropathy in children. miR-150 is a potential typing indictor to differentiate MCD from other nephropathy subtypes.