Microarray analysis of micro-ribonucleic acid expression in primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) and microRNA (miRNA).

METHODS: We analyzed the miRNA expression profiles in renal biopsies from 11 IgAN patients and 3 controls at the Kidney Transplantation and Hemo Purification Center of 181 Hospital, China, from May to October 2007, using a mammalian miRNA microarray containing whole human mature and precursor miRNA sequences.

RESULTS: This study identified 132 miRNAs in renal samples, of which 35 miRNAs up-regulated in IgAN biopsies. The chip results were confirmed by northern blot analysis and by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.

CONCLUSION: Our study may help clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of IgAN, and miRNAs potentially serve as a novel diagnostic biomarker of IgAN.