Study of MicroRNA-192 as an Early Biomarker for Diagnosis of Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious complication of Diabetes mellitus. This clinical condition is diagnosed through detection of microalbuminuria. Molecular biomarkers such as MicroRNA-192 may play a role in early diagnosis of this condition. The objective of this study was to assess the serum concentration of MicroRNA-192 in different stages of DN in comparison to a group of healthy individuals. The study was a retrospective case-control study included three groups. Group I included patients with early DN, group II included patients with late DN and group III included healthy control subjects. Blood samples were obtained from each participant and subjected to full biochemical study including creatinine, albumin and detection of MicroRNA-192 by real time polymerase chain reaction. There was significant difference between MicroRNA-192 levels in the three groups (P=0.001). There was significant increase in MicroRNA-192 level in group I (1.35±7 0.5) compared to group II (0.65±7 0.2, P3=0.001) and group III (0.83±7 0.3, P1=0.001). There was significant reduction in MicroRNA-192 level in group II compared to group III (P2=0.001). The study of diagnostic accuracy of MicroRNA-192 in the patients revealed good accuracy in the differentiation of early DN from control subjects (sensitivity 62% and specificity 86%) and good accuracy in the differentiation of early from late DN (sensitivity and specificity each 82%). The present study highlights that MicroRNA-192 is a good diagnostic tool for early detection of DN. MicroRNA-192 correlates significantly with estimated glomerular filtration rate, albuminuria, and renal functions tests. MicroRNA-192 might play role in the development of DN.