Evaluation of serum miR-122-5p, miR-486-5p, miR-21-5p, and their interplay with inflammatory markers in diabetic nephropathy: a case control study

Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Bibliographic Information

Authors: Osman E.A.; Eltaweel N.H.; Madbouly M.; Mosbah O.; Gaber M.G.; Khanany F.M.

Journal: BMC Nephrology

Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd

Publication Date: 29 November 2025

Volume / Issue: Volume 26 / Issue 1

Article No.: 683

ISSN: 14712369

DOI: 10.1186/s12882-025-04619-w

Scopus: View on Scopus

PubMed: 41318413

Document Type: Article

Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access

Authors and Affiliations

Osman E.A., Clinical Chemistry Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Eltaweel N.H., Medical Molecular Genetics Department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt; Madbouly M., Radiology Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Mosbah O., Nephrology Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt; Gaber M.G., Nephrology Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt; Khanany F.M., Clinical Chemistry Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

The development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), a major consequence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is impacted by hereditary factors, immunological dysregulation, and inflammation. Inflammatory indicators and circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) can be stable and used as diagnostic biomarkers. The objective of this study was to assess whether serum miRNA-122-5p, miRNA-486-5p, and miRNA-21-5p can serve as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for DKD by comparing their levels in T2DM patients with and without DKD against healthy controls, and by examining their correlations with inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α, and hsCRP). Finally, their role in DKD pathogenesis was also investigated through their possible target genes using a bioinformatic analysis. A total of 1350 individuals were enrolled: 450 T2DM with DKD, 450 with T2DM without DKD, and 450 healthy controls. We used qRT-PCR to quantify miRNA expression, ELISA to assess IL-6 and TNF-α, and an immunoturbidimetric technique to detect hsCRP. We found that miRNA-122-5p and miRNA-21-5p levels were substantially elevated in DKD patients and positively correlated with hsCRP and TNF-α; miRNA-21-5p also correlated with IL-6. Conversely, miRNA-486-5p expression was markedly reduced in the DKD group and showed no correlation with inflammatory markers. Enrichment analysis revealed involvement in TNF signaling, insulin resistance, and growth hormone pathways. Their differential expression in DKD may support the utility of miRNA-122-5p, miRNA-21-5p, and miRNA-486-5p expression as potential biomarkers for DKD. © The Author(s) 2025.

Keywords

Biomarkers; Diagnosis; DKD; miRNA-122-5p; miRNA-21-5p; miRNA-486-5p; Adult; C-Reactive Protein; Case-Control Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetic Nephropathies; Female; Humans; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Male; MicroRNAs; Middle Aged; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; biological marker; C reactive protein; creatinine; hemoglobin A1c; interleukin 6; microRNA; mir 122 5p; mir 21 5p; mir 486 5p; tumor necrosis factor; unclassified drug; uric acid; MIRN122 microRNA, human; MIRN21 microRNA, human; MIRN486 microRNA, human; albumin to creatinine ratio; Article; bioinformatics; blood donor; blood sampling; case control study; controlled study; demographics; diabetic nephropathy; diagnostic test accuracy study; differential gene expression; echography; estimated glomerular filtration rate; follow up; functional enrichment analysis; gene expression profiling; human; hyperglycemia; insulin resistance; major clinical study; non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; physical examination; protein expression; protein protein interaction; real time polymerase chain reaction; receiver operating characteristic; RNA extraction; room temperature; TNF signaling; blood; complication; metabolism

Citation Information

Scopus Citations: 2

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