MicroRNAs as potential therapeutic targets in kidney disease

Abstract

One cornerstone of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is fibrosis, as kidneys are susceptible due to their high vascularity and predisposition to ischemia. Presently, only therapies targeting the angiotensin receptor are used in clinical practice to retard the progression of CKD. Thus, there is a pressing need for new therapies designed to treat the damaged kidney. Several independent laboratories have identified a number of microRNAs that are dysregulated in human and animal models of CKD. We will explore the evidence suggesting that by blocking the activity of such dysregulated microRNAs, new therapeutics could be developed to treat the progression of CKD.

MiR-21 Regulates TNF-α-Induced CD40 Expression via the SIRT1-NF-κB Pathway in Renal Inner Medullary Collecting Duct Cells

“…Studies have highlighted the critical role of miRs in the progression of renal disease through regulation of target gene expression [44, 45], and SIRT1 was shown to be regulated by miRs [32, 33, 46, 47]. It has been revealed that miR-21 can protect the kidney against ischaemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting the inflammatory response and apoptosis, which is one of the mechanisms involved in the protective effect of renal ischaemic preconditioning in vivo and in vitro [48, 49].…”

Anti–microRNA-21 oligonucleotides prevent Alport nephropathy progression by stimulating metabolic pathways

“…In previous studies in normal kidney or following ureteral obstructive kidney disease, the glomerulus was not a significant target for intracellular uptake, but in mice with early Alport nephropathy, glomerular podocytes, function (9). Therefore, unlike transcription factors, individual miRNAs are readily targetable with oligonucleotides in both animals and humans (10,11).…”

Renal Allograft Fibrosis: Biology and Therapeutic Targets

“…Each miRNA controls, and mostly reduces, expression of sets of genes that are often functionally related (335). Specific expression of miRNAs during kidney disease could serve as a potential diagnostic approach [see below and (336)].…”