ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: SA-PO393

MicroRNA-451 as an Early Predictor of and Protector against Diabetic Nephropathy (DN)

Session Information

Category: Chronic Kidney Disease (Non-Dialysis)

  • 301 CKD: Risk Factors for Incidence and Progression

Authors

  • Fluitt, Maurice, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
  • Shivapurkar, Narayan, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
  • Li, Lijun, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
  • Ecelbarger, Carolyn M., Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Background

MicroRNAs (MiRs) play a role in affecting transcription of a number of genes involved in DN progression, and are an attractive target as biomarkers and therapeutics. Recent studies report an early elevation in urine exosomal (UE) miR-451 with developing DN, but that overall higher renal expression was relatively protective. The current study aimed to determine whether UE miR-451 is an early predictor of albuminuria and the effect of miR-451 antagonism on DN progression in mice prone to type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Male TALLYHO/Jng mice were divided into 2 treatment groups. Mice received weekly intraperitoneal injections of locked nucleic acid (LNA)-miR-451-inhibitor or LNA-scrambled compound (2mg/kg bw; n = 8/ treatment) for 8 weeks. All mice were fed a high-fat diet (60% kCal). Urine (24-hr) was collected every 2 weeks. Mice were humanely euthanized after 8 weeks and kidneys, livers, abdominal adipose tissue, and pancreas were collected for analysis. UE were prepared by high-speed centrifugation (200,000xg). MiR-451 was quantified by qRT-PCR.

Results

UE miR451 levels were reduced 97% in antagonist-treated mice by week 2. Urine albumin levels at week 8 were positively correlated to UE miR-451 at week 2 showing potential predictive power (r=0.45). MiR-451 antagonist did not significantly affect final body or kidney weights. Fasting blood glucose (18-hr) did increase in in the inhibitor treated group at week 3, but decreased at 6 weeks. Inhibitor treated mice also presented with greater variability in blood glucose, with some mice becoming hypoglycemic at 6 weeks (blood glucose <65 mg/dl). Blood collected at euthanasia was analyzed by iSTAT. Serum sodium was significantly higher (2.4%) in the LNA-inhibitor treated group (when compared to the scramble-treated group). In addition, BUN and base excess (extracellular fluid) were 16% and 67% lower, respectively, in the LNA-inhibitor treated group. No other blood chemistry parameters were significantly different. Masson’s trichrome-stained were scored for collagen deposition and showed an increase in increased glomerular injury and collagen deposition in the LNA-inhibitor treated group (scores 2.00 versus 2.95, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Overall, we find that miR-451 may hold promise as an early biomarker for DN in mice, and that therapy to enhance renal expression may be beneficial.

Funding

  • Clinical Revenue Support