Altered MCF2L-AS1 expression and correlation with the prognosis of diabetic nephropathy

Although diabetic nephropathy (DN) stands as a prominent complication in individuals with diabetes, the specific molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we focused on one newly discovered lncRNA, MCF2L-AS1, and its target gene, BCOR, in individuals with various levels of DN. Twenty-eight participants with different stages of DN (14 early stage and 14 late stage), 12 non-diabetic individuals, and 12 with T2DM without microvascular complications were selected. The qPCR was done, and one-way ANOVA assessed gene expression. ROC curves analysis and Spearman correlations between levels of expression and clinicopathological parameters were explored. The expression of MCF2L-AS1 decreased in the early and late DN groups compared to the type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively) and non-diabetic groups (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively). However, BCOR gene expression analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between the groups (P = 0.27). MCF2L-AS1 levels negatively correlated with microalbuminuria (P = 0.003, r = -0.41), but not with creatinine (Cr) (P = 0.058, r = -0.29). Moreover, there was no correlation between BCOR and microalbumin (P = 0.85, r = 0.02) and Cr (P = 0.49, r = 0.10). ROC curves underscored significant diagnostic accuracy for MCF2L-AS1 in distinguishing DN from people without kidney diseases (P < 0.05). This study introduces MCF2L-AS1 as a potential key player in the molecular landscape of DN, shedding light on its multifaceted interactions. The results provide a basis for further exploration and therapeutic interventions in the management of DN.