Table 3.
miRNAs as biomarkers in different clinical types of SLE
| MicroRNA marker | Expression level of target gene | Clinical correlation and SLE disease association | Possible mechanisms | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNMT1-related microRNAs as a biomarker | ||||
| miR-126 | Positively correlated with disease activity | Induces DNA hypomethylation | [92, 118] | |
| miR-21 | Positively correlated with the SLEDAI score, SLE flares, and remission | |||
| miR-148a | ↑(PBMCs) | Positively correlated with the SLEDAI score | Induces DNA hypomethylation | [91, 118, 119] |
| MicroRNA biomarkers to evaluate renal dysfunction | ||||
| miR-130b-3p | ↑(serum) | Positively correlated with renal damage | Promote EMT by targeting ERBB2IP | [121] |
| miR-26a and miR-30b | ↓(kidney and urine) | Positively correlated with disease activity | Control of mesangial cell proliferation and cell cycle-related genes | [122] |
| Downregulate the anti-fibrotic protein suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) and upregulate profibrotic proteins in both proximal tubular and mesangial cells | ||||
| miR-150 | ↑(kidney) | Positive correlation with chronicity scores | [123] | |
| Extracellular vesicle miRNAs | ||||
| miR-26a | ↑(urine exosomes) ↓(glomerular) |
Positive correlation with lupus nephritis, urinary protein levels | Decreased the expression of genes associated with the podocyte differentiation and formation of the cytoskeleton | [125] |
| miR-29c | ↓(urinary exosomes) | Negatively correlated with the histological chronicity index and glomerular sclerosis | Exacerbate renal fibrosis by targeting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and increasing the deposition of extracellular matrix | [126] |
| Immune-related microRNAs as biomarkers | ||||
| miR-146a | ↓(CD4+ T cells, serum) ↑(urine) |
Negative correlated with disease activity, proteinuria, lupus nephritis, GFR, histological activity index | Negative regulator in the IFN pathway | [94, 99, 132] |
| Controversial (CD4+ T cells, serum) ↑(urine) |
Positively correlated with proteinuria and SLEDAI score | Aim at SHIP11 to maintain an activation threshold that allows B cells to respond to antigens | [99, 118, 130, 131] | |
| miR-155 | ↓(Lymphocytes) ↑miR-142-3p (plasma) ↑miR-142-5p (renal tissue) |
No correlation with disease activity | Promoting T cell activity and antibody generation | |
| hsa-miR-142 | Negatively correlated with the SLEDAI score, lupus nephritis (GFR and creatinine ratio) | Increased level of inflammatory chemokine regulated on activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) in SLE T cells | [90, 93, 133–135] | |
| miR-125a | ↓(CD4+ T cells, urine) | [118, 137] | ||
| miR-31 | ↓(T cell) | Negatively associated with diseases activity and urine protein | Reduced expression of IL-2 | [139, 140] |
| miR-21 | ↑(T cell) | Positively associated with diseases activity and urine protein | T cell activation | [139] |
| MicroRNA biomarkers to classify disease phenotype | ||||
| hsa-miR-30e-5p, hsa-miR-92a-3p, and hsa-miR-223-3p | ↑(plasma) | hsa-miR-223-3p is connected to oral ulcer and lupus anticoagulant Positively associated with serous cavity effusion. CRP and anti-Clq antibody |
Not mentioned | [141] |
| miR-326 | ↑(Treg) | Regulating immune cell function | [142] | |