Comprehensive analysis of microRNA expression patterns in renal biopsies of lupus nephritis patients

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNA molecules of 21–24 nt that regulate the expression of target genes in a post-transcriptional manner. Evidence indicates that miRNAs play essential roles in embryogenesis, cell differentiation, and pathogenesis of human diseases. This study describes a comparison between the miRNA profile of kidney biopsies from lupus nephritis (LN) patients and the controls, to develop further understanding of the pathogenesis of LN. Kidney biopsies were taken from five LN patients detected LN Class II and three normal controls. The miRNA microarray chip analysis identified 66 miRNAs differentially expressed in LN. The chip results were confirmed by QRT-PCR. This work indicates that miRNAs are potential diagnosis biomarkers and probable factors involved in the pathogenesis of LN.