Microarray analysis of micro-ribonucleic acid expression in primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy

To explore the relationship between immunoglobulin A nephropathy [IgAN] and microRNA [miRNA]. We analyzed the miRNA expression profiles in renal biopsies from 11 IgAN patients and 3 controls at the Kidney Transplantation and Hemo Purification Center of 181 Hospital, China, from May to October 2007, using a mammalian miRNA microarray containing whole human mature and precursor miRNA sequences. This study identified 132 miRNAs in renal samples, of which 35 miRNAs up-regulated in IgAN biopsies. The chip results were confirmed by northern blot analysis and by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] tests. Our study may help clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of IgAN, and miRNAs potentially serve as a novel diagnostic biomarker of IgAN