Regulation of urinary microRNA expression in renal diseases and its utility as a biomarker

• Project/Area Number: 18K08229
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53040:Nephrology-related
• Research Institution: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: Konta Tsuneo 山形大学, 医学部, 教授 (60333952)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: microRNA / 腎臓病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we analyzed microRNAs in blood and urine of 150 healthy subjects and patients with renal diseases and found that (1) various microRNAs are expressed in glomerular, tubular, and interstitial cells, (2) microRNA expression in renal tissues correlates with microRNA expression in urine, (3) urinary microRNA expression profiles differ depending on the type of renal lesion, and (4) specific urinary microRNAs are associated with decreased renal function.
These results suggest that various microRNAs are involved in the onset and progression of renal diseases and that urinary microRNAs reflect the expression of renal tissue microRNAs and the pathogenesis of renal disorders. Therefore, urinary microRNAs can be a prognostic biomarker for renal diseases.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、尿microRNAは腎臓病の予後を予測する指標となりうることが示唆された。腎臓病は心臓病や脳卒中との関連が強いことから、microRNAと各疾患との関連についての検討をさらに進めることで、microRNAを対象とした幅広い疾患の新しい治療法の開発につながる可能性がある。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Association among chronic kidney disease, airflow limitation, and mortality in a community-based population: The Yamagata (Takahata) study. (2020)
  • Author(s): Suzuki N, Matsuki E, Araumi A, Ashitomi S, Watanabe S, Kudo K, Ichikawa K, Inoue S, Watanabe M, Ueno Y, Ishizawa K, Kayama T, Konta T.
  • Journal Title: Sci Rep. Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Pages: 5570-5570
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62540-8
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] The association between urinary sodium excretion and blood pressure in a community-based population: the Yamagata (Takahata) study (2018)
  • Author(s): Watanabe Sayumi、Konta Tsuneo、Ichikawa Kazunobu、Watanabe Masafumi、Ishizawa Kenichi、Ueno Yoshiyuki、Yamashita Hidetoshi、Kayama Takamasa、Kubota Isao
  • Journal Title: Clinical and Experimental Nephrology Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Pages: 380-386
  • DOI: 10.1007/s10157-018-1654-3
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] The correlation between urinary microRNA-21 and renal parameters in patients with IgA nephropathy (2020)
  • Author(s): Akira Araumi, Tsukasa Osaki, Kazunobu Ichikawa, Masafumi Watanabe, Tsuneo Konta
  • Organizer: Kidney Week 2020, Denver USA, Oct 2020
  • Int'l Joint Research