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Study of MicroRNA-124 in Patients with Lupus Nephritis
Mostafa Abdelsalam1, Maysaa El Sayed Zaki2, Nermin Youssef Abo El-Kheir2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt and Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Background:
Lupus nephritis is associated with a six-fold increase in mortality compared with the general population. MicroRNAs studies revealed that increased MicroRNA -21 and MicroRNA -155 levels represent risk factors for active LN patients. MicroRNAs can be used as biomarkers in the diagnosis of clinical stages of LN.
Objectives:
The present study aimed to determine the level of miR-124 in patients with lupus nephritis by reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction compared to healthy control and correlate its levels with biochemical findings in those patients.
Methods:
The study was a case-control study that included fifty patients with lupus nephritis in addition to fifty healthy controls. Blood samples from the participants were subjected to the determination of serological markers of SLE. Moreover, real-time PCR was used for the determination of miR-124.
Results:
The comparison of Micro-RNA124 between patients and control subjects revealed a statistically significant decrease in Micro-RNA124 in patients (1.193 ± 0.56) compared to the control (3.36 ± 0.50, p <0.001); the comparison of the level of MicroRNA 124 in the patients with different clinical and serological findings of SLE revealed a significant decrease in the level of MicroRNA 124 in patients with muscular findings (1.02 ± 0.5) compared to the patients with negative manifestations (1.47 ± 0.5, p =0.005).
Conclusion:
In the present study, a comparison of MicroRNA-124 in LN patients with different stages compared to normal control showed a statistically significant decrease in Micro-RNA124 in patients with lupus nephritis p <0.001 with significant correlation to the patients' different clinical and serological findings of SLE. Therefore, it may be used as a new noninvasive therapeutic approach to monitor response to therapy, predict relapses, and identify the degree of the activity of the disease or the progression to the chronic stage.
Insights
MicroRNA-124 levels are significantly decreased in lupus nephritis patients compared to healthy individuals. Lower miR-124 levels correlate with clinical and serological findings in lupus nephritis, suggesting its potential as a biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Lupus nephritis (LN) significantly increases mortality risk.
- Elevated levels of MicroRNA-21 and MicroRNA-155 are risk factors in active LN.
- MicroRNAs show promise as diagnostic biomarkers for LN clinical stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify miR-124 levels in lupus nephritis patients versus healthy controls.
- To investigate the correlation between miR-124 levels and biochemical markers in LN patients.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 50 LN patients and 50 healthy controls.
- Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to measure miR-124 levels.
- Serological markers for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) were determined.
Main Results:
- Patients with lupus nephritis exhibited significantly lower miR-124 levels (1.193 ± 0.56) compared to controls (3.36 ± 0.50, p <0.001).
- A significant decrease in miR-124 was observed in LN patients with muscular manifestations (1.02 ± 0.5) compared to those without (1.47 ± 0.5, p =0.005).
Conclusions:
- MicroRNA-124 is significantly downregulated in lupus nephritis patients.
- miR-124 levels correlate with clinical and serological findings in SLE.
- miR-124 may serve as a noninvasive biomarker for monitoring LN therapy response, predicting relapses, and assessing disease activity or chronicity.
