Fig. 8

Urinary exosomal miR-92a-1-5p level as a biomarker of renal injury and a predictor of rapid decline in kidney function in humans. A Urinary exosomal miR-92a-1-5p, ACR, NGAL/Cr, and KIM-1/Cr levels were examined in type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients (n = 44) compared to healthy individuals (n = 36). B The association of urinary exosomal miR-92a-1-5p levels with urinary ACR, NGAL/Cr, and KIM-1/Cr, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the participants. C The flow chart shows the experiment of investigating the effect of urinary exosomes on MMCs. MMCs were treated with urinary exosomes derived from normal individuals (n = 6) and type 2 diabetic patients (n = 6) for 48 h. D Size distribution plots of urinary exosomes in humans using nanoparticle tracking analysis. E N-cadherin and RCN3 levels were examined in MMCs treated with urinary exosomes derived from normal individuals and T2D patients at the same time. F The association of RCN3 expression with N-cadherin expression in MMCs, and urinary miR92-a-1-5p level and ACR in the participants. G The association of N-cadherin expression in MMCs with urinary miR92-a-1-5p level and urinary ACR, and baseline eGFR in the participants. Exosomal miR-92a-1-5p in the urine of mice was isolated, and then assessed by qRT-PCR. Urine albumin was measured using the immunoturbidimetric assay, and urine creatinine was determined using the enzymatic method. The levels of NGAL in urine were measured using Magnetic Luminex® Assay. The concentrations of KIM-1 in urine were measured using ELISA. Serum creatinine was measured using the compensated Jaffé (kinetic alkaline picrate) method. eGFR was calculated using the equation (eGFR = 186 × serum creatinine -1.154 × Age -0.203 × 0.742 (if female). The bar graph represents the mean ± S.E.M. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 by Student’s t-test or ANOVA followed by the post hoc test with Tukey’s correction, and p-value of correlation was analyzed by Spearman analysis