Increased expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with IgA nephropathy

Small RNA deep sequencing reveals novel miRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with IgA nephropathy

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) contribute to the deposition of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and progression of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). This study was performed to identify novel microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) associated with IgAN. Small RNAs were isolated from PBMCs collected from 10 healthy participants and 10 patients with IgAN; the RNAs were then subjected to high‑throughput small RNA sequencing. The results showed that miRNAs constituted 70.33 and 69.83% of small RNAs in PBMCs from healthy participants and patients with IgAN, respectively. In total, 44 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, of which 34 were upregulated and 10 were downregulated. Among these differentially expressed miRNAs, most showed novel associations with IgAN, except miR‑148a‑3p, miR‑184 and miR‑200a. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs were primarily enriched in cancer pathways, the PI3K‑Akt signaling pathway and MAPK pathways, all of which control cell proliferation and gene expression. Moreover, miR‑3121‑3p, miR‑203a‑3p and miR‑200a‑3p may regulate core 1 synthase, glycoprotein‑N‑acetylgalactosamine 3‑β‑galactosyltransferase 1 (C1GALT1) expression by binding to its 3' untranslated region. In conclusion, 44 differentially expressed miRNAs were discovered, 41 of which were newly found to be associated with IgAN. The differentially expressed miRNAs may regulate the progression of IgAN by controlling the behavior of PBMCs or deposition of IgA via targeting of signaling pathways or expression of C1GALT1. These findings may provide a basis for further research regarding IgAN diagnosis and therapy.

Increased interleukin 6 mRNA expression by peripheral blood T cells from patients with IgA nephropathy

We investigated interleukin 6 (IL-6) mRNA expression in peripheral blood T-cells obtained from 36 patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), 36 patients with other glomerulonephritides and 24 healthy age-matched controls. The majority of patients with IgAN had increased IL-6 mRNA expression by their T cells; no IL-6 mRNA was detected in T cells obtained from patients with other glomerulonephritides or normal controls. A positive correlation was noted between the IL-6 mRNA level and quantity of protein excretion in the urine, histopathological findings, and renal function. However, there was no significant correlation between IL-6 mRNA expression and the IgA-immune complex titer, serum IgA level or blood pressure. mRNA levels in T cells obtained from patients with grade III or IV renal histopathological findings were significantly higher than in those with grade I or II histopathology. In addition, mRNA levels in T cells obtained from patients with more than 1.0 g/day proteinuria were markedly higher than those with less than 1.0 g/day proteinuria. We also studied the clinical course of 11 patients with IgAN during hospitalization. The IL-6 mRNA levels in these patients decreased gradually, as did proteinuria, after treatment. These studies suggest that abnormally regulated IL-6 mRNA expression in peripheral blood T cells may be associated with disease activity in IgAN.

Renal platelet-derived growth factor gene expression in NZB/W F1 mice with lupus and ddY mice with IgA nephropathy

The present study was carried out to determine how platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A and -B chain mRNA expression correlate with disease activity in the renal cortex of NZB/W F1 mice, a model of systemic lupus erythematosus, and ddY mice, a model of IgA nephropathy. The PDGF-A and -B chain mRNA levels increased significantly as nephritis progressed in NZB/W F1 mice. In the renal cortex of ddY mice, however, the PDGF mRNA levels increased slightly with age. The PDGF mRNA levels in ddY mice were lower than those in NZB/W F1 mice. In the NZW control kidneys, the PDGF mRNA levels changed minimally throughout the experiments. A positive correlation was noted between PDGF mRNA levels and histopathological changes in renal tissues. At the onset of nephritis, NZB/W F1 mice were divided into two groups that received either methylprednisolone (MPSL) or saline injections for 5 months. The development of histopathological lesions and the increased PDGF mRNA levels were suppressed by MPSL treatment. These data suggest that PDGF plays a role in the progression of nephritis and that the beneficial effect of MPSL correlates with its ability to decrease the abnormally high PDGF mRNA levels seen in lupus nephritis.