# MicroRNAs miR-29a-3p and miR-192-5p: promising urinary biomarkers for kidney function loss

**Authors:** Cristine Dieter, Eliandra Girardi, Marcia Puñales, Daisy Crispim

PMC · DOI: 10.20945/2359-4292-2026-0019 · 2026-03-02

## TL;DR

This study found that two microRNAs in urine could help detect kidney damage in people with type 1 diabetes.

## Contribution

Identified miR-29a-3p and miR-192-5p as potential urinary biomarkers for diabetic kidney disease.

## Key findings

- miR-29a-3p levels were higher in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and correlated with kidney function decline.
- miR-192-5p levels were elevated in moderate DKD and also correlated with worsening kidney function.

## Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the expression of miR-29a-3p and miR-192-5p in
patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with diabetic kidney disease
(DKD) compared to those without DKD.

This study included 29 patients with T1DM, comprising 13 without DKD (non-DKD
group) and 16 with DKD, who were further subdivided into nine patients with
moderate DKD and seven with severe DKD. MiR-29a-3p and miR-192-5p expression
levels were measured in urine samples using qPCR and are presented as
medians (25-75th percentiles).

miR-29a-3p levels were higher in patients with DKD compared to the non-DKD
group [1.24 (0.97-1.74) versus 0.83 (0.72-0.99); P = 0.008]. Its expression
showed a negative correlation with estimated glomerular filtration rate
(eGFR) (P = 0.007) and a positive correlation with creatinine levels (P =
0.004). MiR-192-5p levels were higher in patients with moderate DKD compared
to the non-DKD group [2.15 (1.45-4.21) versus vs. 1.42 (0.98-2.45); P =
0.015], showing a negative correlation with eGFR (P = 0.003) and a positive
correlation with creatinine (P = 0.006).

The differential expression of miR-29a-3p and miR-192-5p in DKD highlights
their potential as promising biomarkers for this complication.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** type 1 diabetes mellitus (MONDO:0005147), diabetic kidney disease (MONDO:0005016)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** ALB (albumin) [NCBI Gene 213] {aka FDAHT, HSA, PRO0883, PRO0903, PRO1341}, MIR29A (microRNA 29a) [NCBI Gene 407021] {aka MIRN29, MIRN29A, hsa-mir-29, hsa-mir-29a, miRNA29A, mir-29a}, MIR1263 (microRNA 1263) [NCBI Gene 100302148] {aka MIRN1263, hsa-mir-1263}, CEL (carboxyl ester lipase) [NCBI Gene 1056] {aka BAL, BSDL, BSSL, CELL, CEase, FAP}, MIR192 (microRNA 192) [NCBI Gene 406967] {aka MIRN192, miR-192, miRNA192}, MIR935 (microRNA 935) [NCBI Gene 100126325] {aka MIRN935, hsa-mir-935, mir-935}, MIR215 (microRNA 215) [NCBI Gene 406997] {aka MIRN215, miRNA215, mir-215}
- **Diseases:** kidney failure (MESH:D051437), ESRD (MESH:D007676), function loss (MESH:D006315), DM (MESH:D003920), hypertrophy (MESH:D006984), DR (MESH:D003930), Chronic Kidney Disease (MESH:D051436), rheumatic diseases (MESH:D012216), inflammation (MESH:D007249), cardiac fibrosis (MESH:D005355), albuminuria (MESH:D000419), hypertension (MESH:D006973), dyslipidemia (MESH:D050171), atherosclerosis (MESH:D050197), DKD (MESH:D003928), HIV (MESH:D015658), metabolic disorders (MESH:D008659), febrile illness (MESH:D005334), proteinuria (MESH:D011507), kidney function loss (MESH:D007680), T2DM (MESH:D003924), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (MESH:D018487), liver or cardiac failure (MESH:D006333), Kidney Disease (MESH:D007674), obesity (MESH:D009765), hepatitis (MESH:D056486), AKI (MESH:D058186), T1DM (MESH:D003922), mesangial expansion (MESH:C537346)
- **Chemicals:** triglycerides (MESH:D014280), microalbuminuria (-), creatinine (MESH:D003404), glucose (MESH:D005947), cholesterol (MESH:D002784)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Mutations:** -866G/A

## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12974773/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12974773