Investigating The Expression Of Long Noncoding RNA MALAT1 In Children With Nephrotic Syndrome

Background: Nephrotic syndrome(NS)is a common pediatric renal disease characterized by massive proteinuria,hypoalbuminemia,massive edema,and hyperlipidemia.The pathogenesis underlying NS has been investigated in details but its genetic regulation is not fully understood.Recently,long noncoding RNA MALAT1 has been shown to be a potential biomarker for certain renal diseases.However,little is known about MALAT1 in the setting of nephrotic syndrome.Objectives: The goal of this study is to determine the level of expression of circulating lnc RNA MALAT1 in patients with nephrotic syndrome.Methods: The blood samples from 8 children with nephrotic syndrome and 4 healthy children were collected and their clinicodemographic characteristics were obtained and analyzed.Quantitative real-time PCR(q PCR)was conducted to assess the expression of lnc RNA MALAT1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)of the children.Results: The study population included a total of 12 patients,including 8 nephrotic syndrome patients(6 males and 2 females;mean age of 5.75 ± 4.17 years)and 4 healthy children in the control group(1 male and 3 females;mean age of 8.75 ± 3.10 years).There was statistically significant difference in 24 hr urine protein,urine albumin-creatinine ratio(ACR),urine β2-microglobulin,urine α1-microglobulin,serum C3 complement,total serum cholesterol,LDL cholesterol,aspartate transaminase and total bilirubin levels between the two the group of patients(P < 0.05).Lnc RNA MALAT1 expression was significantly upregulated in the nephrotic syndrome patients compared to the healthy control children(4.324 ± 1.55 vs 1.29 ± 0.10;P = 0.0003).Linear correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation of lnc RNA MALAT1 with urine ACR(r = 0.869,P = 0.005),urine β2-microglobulin(r = 0.762,P = 0.028),and urine α1-microglobulin(r = 0.738,P = 0.036)in the nephrotic syndrome patients.Conclusion: Lnc RNA MALAT1 is upregulated in pediatric patients with nephrotic syndrome and showed a positive correlation with urine ACR,urine β2-microglobulin,urine α1-microglobulin.