Relationship of cell-free urine MicroRNA with lupus nephritis in children

Background: micrornas (mirnas) are involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes. the objective of this study was to investigate whether select urinary cell-free microrna's may serve as biomarkers in children with active lupus nephritis (ln) and to assess their relationship to the recently identified combinatorial urine biomarkers,a.k.a. the ln-panel (neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin,monocyte chemotactic protein 1,transferrin,and beta-trace protein). methods: mirnas (125a,127,146a,150 and 155) were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction in the urine pellet (pel) and supernatant (sup) in 14 patients with active ln,10 patients with active extra-renal lupus,and 10 controls. the concentrations of the ln-panel biomarkers (neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin,monocyte chemotactic protein-1,transferrin,beta-trace protein) was assayed. traditional laboratory and clinical measures of ln and lupus (complements,protein to creatinine ratio; systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index) were also measured. results: all tested mirnas in the sup,but not the pel,were associated with the ln-panel biomarkers (0.3 < |r pearson| < 0.73; p < 0.05),mirna125a,mirna127,mirna146a also with c3 and dsdna antibody levels (|r pearson| > 0.24; p < 0.05),and mirna146a with the renal domain of the sledai (|r pearson| = 0.32; p < 0.05). mean mirna levels of patients with active ln did not statistically (p > 0.05) differ from those of sle patients without ln or controls. conclusion: levels of cell-free mir-125a,mir-150,and mir-155 in the urine supernatant are associated with the expression of ln-panel biomarkers and some ln measures. these mirna's may complement,but are unlikely superior to the ln-panel for estimating concurrent ln activity. © 2016 abulaban et al.