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Abstract: SA-PO682

The Clinical Significance of Circulating piRNAs in Extracellular Vesicles in Patients With Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

Session Information

Category: Glomerular Diseases

  • 1303 Glomerular Diseases: Clinical‚ Outcomes‚ and Trials

Authors

  • Kwon, Soon hyo, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Sun, In O, Presbyterian Medical Center, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do , Korea (the Republic of)
Background

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a distinct group of small non coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. Although piRNAs has been studied in predicting prognosis in kidney cancer, little is known about piRNAs in glomerular disease. Therefore, we investigated the clinical significance of piRNAs in nephrotic syndrome.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 60 participants, including those with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (IMN) (n=19) and idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) (n=21) and healthy volunteers (HVs; n=20) in this study. Using RNA sequencing, we assessed the serum extracellular vesicle (EV)-piRNA profiles of all participants. We investigated whether the piRNAs could be helpful to discriminate IMN from INS and predict the treatment response of patients with IMN. Based on achievement of clinical remission, IMN patients were divided in to two groups [IMN-W (n=9) vs IMN-R (n=10)].

Results

We found 11 piRNAs that were upregulated and 6 that were downregulated in patients with IMN when compared to HVs. There were 22 miRNAs that were upregulated and 23 that were downregulated in patients with IMN when compared to the INS. Among these miRNAs, we found 5 piRNAs, whose levels were significantly up- or downregulated in patients with IMN compared to HVs and patients with INS. There were 50 upregulated and 11 downregulated piRNAs in patients with IMN-R when compared to patients with IMN-W. Of these piRNAs, the expression level of piRNA-42775 and piRNA-36743 were found to be inversely correlated with proteinuria on kidney biopsy. Meanwhile, a positive correlation was observed between renal function and expression of piRNA-43108.

Conclusion

Patients with IMN have a distinct EV-piRNA expression profile compared with INS and HVs. In addition, circulating EV-piRNAs could be useful to predict the treatment response of IMN patients.