miR-205-5p ameliorates podocyte injury in diabetic nephropathy by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor A

Yingdan Zhao1, Yunhai Tang1, Qingqing Wang1

  • 1Department of Nephrology, Jiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai City, China.

Science Progress
|August 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNA-205-5p alleviates diabetic nephropathy by reducing podocyte injury and oxidative stress. It achieves this by suppressing Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, offering a potential new treatment target.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major complication of diabetes, characterized by podocyte injury and oxidative stress.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating cellular processes and have emerged as potential therapeutic targets in DN.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role and regulatory mechanisms of miR-205-5p in podocyte injury and oxidative stress in diabetic nephropathy.
  • To determine if miR-205-5p targets Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A) in the context of DN.

Main Methods:

  • Established mouse and cell models of diabetic nephropathy.
  • Assessed kidney function markers, histological changes, and apoptosis.
  • Quantified miR-205-5p, VEGF-A, oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione), cell viability, and apoptosis.
  • Utilized dual luciferase reporter gene assays and rescue experiments to confirm target interaction and functional significance.

Main Results:

  • Diabetic nephropathy mice exhibited elevated blood glucose, albuminuria, creatinine, BUN, renal injury, apoptosis, and decreased miR-205-5p.
  • miR-205-5p overexpression protected podocytes by increasing viability, reducing apoptosis, and improving oxidative stress markers.
  • VEGF-A was upregulated in DN and directly suppressed by miR-205-5p.
  • VEGF-A upregulation reversed the protective effects of miR-205-5p in podocytes.

Conclusions:

  • miR-205-5p ameliorates podocyte injury and oxidative stress in diabetic nephropathy.
  • The protective mechanism involves the suppression of VEGF-A.
  • miR-205-5p represents a promising therapeutic target for diabetic nephropathy.