Serum miRNA-30a-5p in Steroid Sensitive Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome in Indian Children: A Case-control Study

Introduction: Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome (NS) is a podocytopathy. Micro Ribonucleic Acid (miRNA), composed of 21-25 non coding nucleotides, regulates gene expression by inhibiting protein transcription by binding to complementary messenger RNA. The microRNA-30a is expressed in the human glomerular podocytes and collecting ducts. This microRNA protects the podocytes by targeting the Calcineurin-nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFATc) pathways. Serum microRNA-30a-5p is a validated biomarker which is upregulated in NS.

Aim: To determine the serum miRNA-30a-5p in steroid sensitive idiopathic NS in Indian children.

Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted at the Department of Paediatrics, KS Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore, Karnataka, India, from from January 2018 to June 2019. Thirty children with NS and age and gender matched controls were recruited. Relative expression of microRNA-30a-5p was analysed by Real-Time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Estimations were done both in cases and controls at enrollment and also at four weeks when in remission in cases. The fold change was calculated as a power of cycle threshold. Statistical tests Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to establish the normality using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0.

Results: There was upregulation of microRNA-30a-5p expression among children with NS with a significant fold change (~184) at enrollment. The levels declined, but remained above baseline (~6) after four weeks of treatment when compared to controls. The mean differences in delta threshold cycle and threshold cycle between the three groups were significant (p<0.001). There was no correlation with the biochemical parameters.

Conclusion: The present study concludes that serum microRNA-30a-5p expression is upregulated in children with steroid sensitive NS in Indian children.