THE ROLE OF miRNAS IN THE REGULATION OF OXIDATIVE STRESS AND MICROVASCULAR REACTIVITY IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an initially asymptomatic, but chronic condition characterized by a progressive loss of kidney function over the time. Etiology of CKD includes diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, polycystic kidney disease and other genetic diseases, nephrotic syndrome, etc. The development of complications such as hypertension, anemia, bone diseases, and cardiovascular complications (like heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, cardiac arrest etc.) with an increased risk of death and hospitalization is common. Due to the significant rate of morbidity and mortality from CKD, early detection and primary prevention are extremely important. Oxidative stress affects microvascular reactivity and is considered to be one of the most important causes of endothelial dysfunction, underlying CKD. Recently, the role of miRNA, a non-coding approximately 22 nucleotides long RNA molecules which mediate post-transcriptional gene silencing, in oxidative stress has also been investigated. Individual miRNA molecules, such as miRNA-335-5p, miR-92a, miR-92a-3p relate to endothelial dysfunction. This opens new diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities and requires further research in the field of CKD. The aim of this review article is to systemize recent knowledge on the role of miRNA in the regulation of oxidative stress and microvascular reactivity in CKD.