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Urinary Exosome-Derived microRNAs Reflecting the Changes in Renal Function in Cats
Osamu Ichii1, Hiroshi Ohta2, Taro Horino3
1Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
|December 8, 2018
Summary
Urinary exosome-derived microRNAs show promise as kidney disease (KD) biomarkers in cats. Specific microRNAs like miR-21a and let-7b ratios strongly correlate with KD indicators, aiding early detection.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Kidney disease (KD) is a significant health concern in cats, necessitating improved diagnostic tools.
- Urinary exosome (UExo)-derived microRNAs have previously shown potential as biomarkers for renal pathologies in dogs.
- Identifying novel, non-invasive biomarkers for feline KD is crucial for early detection and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively examine UExo-derived microRNAs as potential biomarkers for KD status in cats.
- To identify specific microRNAs and their ratios that correlate with indicators of renal dysfunction in feline KD.
- To validate the utility of UExo-derived microRNAs for assessing kidney health in cats.
Main Methods:
- Next-generation sequencing was employed to analyze UExo-derived microRNAs in cats with normal renal function (NR) and KD.
- Candidate biomarkers were identified based on previous canine and feline data, and current sequencing results.
- Statistical analyses were performed to correlate microRNA levels and ratios with clinical parameters like serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen.
Main Results:
- Several UExo-derived microRNAs (let-7b, let-7f, miR-10a, miR-10b, miR-21a, miR-22, miR-26a, miR-27b, miR-146a, miR-181a, miR-191, miR-486a) were identified as biomarker candidates.
- Levels of UExo-derived let-7b, miR-22, and miR-26a were significantly decreased in cats with early-stage KD.
- UExo-derived miR-21a levels, normalized to urinary creatinine or total RNA, were significantly higher in the KD group.
- The ratio of UExo-derived miR-21a to let-7b demonstrated the strongest correlation with serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and urinary creatinine.
Conclusions:
- UExo-derived microRNAs, including their raw and normalized levels, can serve as indicators of altered renal function in cats.
- The ratio of specific UExo-derived microRNAs (e.g., miR-21a to let-7b, miR-181a to let-7b/miR-10b) shows significant correlation with KD progression and severity.
- These findings highlight the potential of UExo-derived microRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for feline kidney disease diagnosis and monitoring.
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