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. 2017 Dec;3(3):111-119.
doi: 10.1159/000481730. Epub 2017 Nov 8.

MicroRNAs in Renal Diseases: A Potential Novel Therapeutic Target

Federica Petrillo  1   2 , Anna Iervolino  1   2 , Miriam Zacchia  1 , Adelina Simeoni  3 , Cristina Masella  1 , Giovanna Capolongo  1 , Alessandra Perna  1 , Giovambattista Capasso  1   2 , Francesco Trepiccione  1   2
Affiliations

MicroRNAs in Renal Diseases: A Potential Novel Therapeutic Target

Federica Petrillo et al. Kidney Dis (Basel). 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of short noncoding RNAs that play important roles in posttranscriptional gene regulation. miRNAs inhibit target gene expression by blocking protein translation or by inducing mRNA degradation and therefore have the potential to modulate physiological and pathological processes.

Summary: In the kidney, miRNAs play a role in the organogenesis and in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including renal carcinoma, diabetic nephropathy, cystogenesis, and glomerulopathies. Indeed, podocytes, but also the parietal cells of the Bowman capsule are severely affected by miRNA deregulation. In addition, several miRNAs have been found involved in the development of renal fibrosis. These experimental lines of evidence found a counterpart also in patients affected by diabetic and Ig-A nephropathies, opening the possibility of their use as biomarkers. Finally, the possibility to direct target-specific miRNA to prevent the development of renal fibrosis is encouraging potential novel therapies based on miRNA mimicking or antagonism. This review reports the main studies that investigate the role of miRNAs in the kidneys, in particular highlighting the experimental models used, their potential role as biomarkers and, finally, the most recent data on the miRNA-based therapy.

Key messages: miRNAs are crucial regulators of cell function. They are easy to detect and represent potentially good targets for novel therapies.

Keywords: Dgcr8; Diabetic nephropathy; Dicer; Drosha; Renal cancer; Renal cystogenesis; miRNAs.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mechanism of miRNA deregulation secondary to cell-specific Dicer, Drosha, and Dgcr8 ablation. The main steps of miRNA biogenesis are shown on the left. The black cross indicates the site of interference promoted by Drosha, Dgcr8, or Dicer, respectively. A summary picture of the cell-specific sites used to investigate the role of miRNAs deregulation along the nephron is shown on the right.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Existing strategies for miRNA delivery. miRNA mimics or antagomir developed in viral and/or nonviral vectors are internalized in the cells by endocytosis and then they release their content still stable to replace or inhibit the miRNA function. AAV, adeno-associated virus; AV, adenovirus; LV, lentivirus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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