Absence of miR-146a in Podocytes Increases Risk of Diabetic Glomerulopathy via Up-regulation of ErbB4 and Notch-1.

ABSTRACT: Podocyte injury is an early event in diabetic kidney disease and is a hallmark of glomerulopathy. MicroRNA-146a (miR-146a) is highly expressed in many cell types under homeostatic conditions, and plays an important anti-inflammatory role in myeloid cells. However, its role in podocytes is unclear. Here, we show that miR-146a expression levels decrease in the glomeruli of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), which correlates with increased albuminuria and glomerular damage. miR-146a levels are also significantly reduced in the glomeruli of albuminuric BTBR ob/ob mice, indicating its significant role in maintaining podocyte health. miR-146a-deficient mice (miR-146a^-/-) showed accelerated development of glomerulopathy and albuminuria upon streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia.

SUBMITTER: Lee HW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5241746 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature