Abstract:

ABSTRACT    Objective: To analyze the elationship between circulating miRNAs and the disease activity of patients with FSGS, and explore the role of circulating miRNAs in the pathogenesis of FSGS.  Methodology: miRNAs expression profile was performed on 2 pooled plasma samples from nine patients with active FSGS and 9 normal controls using TaqMan Low Density Array. A panel of differential expressed miRNAs were found, and then validated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) array with individual plasma samples from 32 active FSGS patients. Meanwhile, plasma samples from 15 non-active FSGS patients were examined for candidate miRNAs. Receiver-operatin characteristic (ROC) curves were established to analyze the value of circulating miRNAs for differentiating active FSGS from non-active FSGS and healthy controls.   Results: The results of TaqMan Low Density Array indicated that a panel of miRNAs was deregulated in plasma of active FSGS patients. After large scale independent cohort validation by qRT-PCR, the levels of circulating miR-125b, miR-186 and miR-193a-3p were significantly increased in active FSGS patients compared with that in normal controls. ROC curve analysis showed that circulating miR-125b, miR-186 and miR-193a-3p was a significant value for differentiating active FSGS from normal controls. These miRNAs had an AUC of 0.882, 0.789 and 0.910, resepctively. In addition, the level of circulating miR-186 was also significantly increased in active FSGS patients when compared with non-active FSGS patients. Conclusions: We determined that the levels of circulating miR-125b, miR-186 and miR-193a-3p were increased in patients with active FSGS and miR-186 showed a more closer relationship with FSGS activity.

Key words: Key words: focal segmental glomerulosclerosis , circulating microRNA , disease activity