Low circulating miR-190a-5p predicts progression of chronic kidney disease
- David P. Baird
- Jinnan Zang
- Katie L. Connor
- Oliver Teenan
- Maximilian Reck
- Carolynn Cairns
- Callum Sutherland
- Rachel M. B. Bell
- Jamie P. Traynor
- Ryan Wong
- David A. Ferenbach
- Jeremy Hughes
- Patrick B. Mark
- Alexander P. Maxwell
- Gareth J. McKay
- David A. Simpson
- Bryan R. Conway
- Laura Denby
2025-10-15
MicroRNAs may act as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of chronic kidney disease and are functionally important in disease pathogenesis. To identify novel microRNA biomarkers, we performed small RNA-sequencing on plasma from individuals with type 2 diabetes, with and without chronic kidney disease. MiR-190a-5p abundance was significantly lower in the circulation of type 2 diabetic patients with reduced function compared to those with normal kidney function. In an independent cohort of patients with chronic kidney disease of diverse aetiology, miR-190a-5p abundance predicted disease progression in individuals with no or moderate albuminuria ( < 300 mg/mmol). miR-190a-5p expression in kidney biopsy tissue correlated with the level of miR-190a-5p in the circulation and with estimated glomerular filtration rate, tubular mass and negatively with histological fibrosis. Administration of a miR-190a-5p mimic in a murine ischaemia-reperfusion injury model in male mice reduced tubular injury and fibrosis and increased expression of genes associated with tubular health. Our analyses suggest that miR-190a-5p is a biomarker of tubular cell health, low circulating levels may predict chronic kidney disease progression independent of existing risk factors and strategies to preserve miR-190a-5p may be an effective treatment for restoring tubular cell health following kidney injury.