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Updated: May 5, 2026
MicroRNA In situ Hybridization for Formalin Fixed Kidney Tissues
Published on: November 30, 2013
Systematic review of microRNAs in human acute kidney injury
Adrianna Douvris1,2, Jose L Viñas1, Shareef Akbari3
1Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine and Kidney Research Centre, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Introduction:
Early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) is limited with current tools. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in AKI pathogenesis in preclinical models, but less is known about their role in humans. We conducted a systematic review to identify dysregulated miRNAs in humans with AKI.
Methods:
We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and CENTRAL (August 21, 2023) for studies of human subjects with AKI. We excluded reviews and pre-clinical studies without human data. The primary outcome was dysregulated miRNAs in AKI. Two reviewers screened abstracts, reviewed full texts, performed data extraction and quality assessment (Newcastle Ottawa Scale).
Results:
We screened 2,456 reports and included 92 for synthesis without meta-analysis. All studies except one were observational. Studies were grouped by etiology of AKI: cardiac surgery-associated (CS-AKI, n = 13 studies), sepsis (n = 25), nephrotoxic (n = 9), kidney transplant (n = 26), and other causes (n = 19). In total, 128 miRNAs were identified to be dysregulated across AKI studies (45 miRNAs upregulated, 55 downregulated, 28 both). miR-21 was the most frequently reported (n = 17 studies) and it was increased in all etiologies except CS-AKI where it was decreased (n = 3 studies). Study limitations included bias due to targeted approaches, absence of clinical data/controls, and miRNA normalization methods. Overall study quality was fair (median 5/9, range 2-8 points).
Conclusion:
Dysregulated miRNAs, particularly miR-21, have potential as AKI biomarkers. These results should be interpreted cautiously due to methodological limitations. Standardized methods and unbiased approaches are needed to validate candidate miRNA biomarkers.Registration: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD42020201253).
Insights
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) show potential as biomarkers for acute kidney injury (AKI) in humans, with miR-21 frequently dysregulated across various AKI causes. Further research with standardized methods is needed for validation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Nephrology
Background:
- Early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a clinical challenge.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in AKI pathogenesis in preclinical models, but their role in human AKI requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and identify dysregulated miRNAs in human subjects with AKI.
- To synthesize current evidence on miRNA involvement across different AKI etiologies.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search of major databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CENTRAL) was conducted.
- Studies involving human subjects with AKI were included, excluding reviews and preclinical studies.
- Data extraction and quality assessment using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale were performed by two independent reviewers.
Main Results:
- 92 studies involving 128 unique dysregulated miRNAs were synthesized.
- miR-21 was the most frequently reported miRNA, showing varied expression patterns across different AKI etiologies.
- Study quality was fair, but limitations included targeted approaches, lack of clinical data, and inconsistent normalization methods.
Conclusions:
- Dysregulated miRNAs, especially miR-21, represent potential biomarkers for human AKI.
- Methodological limitations necessitate cautious interpretation of findings.
- Standardized, unbiased approaches are crucial for validating candidate miRNA biomarkers.
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