BACKGROUND

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the main risk factors contributing to morbidity and mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to investigate the potential role of miR-485-5p in human LN.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used for the measurement of miR-485-5p levels. The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The diagnostic role of miR-485-5p in LN was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The impact of miR-485-5p on end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was compared by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis. The target gene was determined by a dual-luciferase reporter assay system.

RESULTS

MiR-485-5p was highly expressed in SLE and LN patients compared with the healthy controls, and LN patients had the highest level of miR-485-5p. The expression level of miR-485-5p in active LN patients was significantly increased compared with that in nonactive cases. MiR-485-5p expression showed a positive correlation with the levels of estimated glomerular filtration rate, serum creatinine, proteinuria, SLE disease activity index score, and inflammatory cytokines. The ROC analysis results indicated that serum miR-485-5p was a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of LN, and it can distinguish active LN patients from nonactive ones. Phosphatase and tensin homolog was a direct target of miR-485-5p, and negatively associated with serum miR-485-5p levels. More ESRD events were observed in cases with high miR-485-5p expression, miR-485-5p was an independent factor for the risk of ESRD in LN patients.

CONCLUSION

Serum miR-485-5p might be a novel promising diagnostic marker for LN and has potential predictive value for ESRD risk in LN patients.