The role of microRNAs in Kidney Disease (version 1)

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A feasibility study of the role of microRNAs in proximal tubular epithelial cells in disease: implications for the aetiology of tubulointerstitial inflammation and scarring.

  • IRAS ID

    111062

  • Contact name

    Juan Mason

  • Contact email

    Juan.Mason@porthosp.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust

  • Research summary

    Research question / hypothesis:
    MicroRNA (miR) expression changes in diseased human renal proximal tubule cells.
    Study Design:
    Laboratory study of archival paraffin block renal biopsies
    Study Participants:
    Diabetic renal patients with and without a transplant who have had a renal biopsy
    Planned Sample Size:
    30
    Follow-up duration:
    none
    Planned Study Period:
    6 weeks
    Primary Objective:
    To measure the expression of miRs in healthy and diseased tissue.
    Secondary Objectives:
    1.To perform serial staining on healthy and diseased kidney tissue to optimise the identification and subsequent isolation of proximal tubular cells using laser capture microdissection (LCM)
    2.To measure the relative expression of miRs in healthy kidney tissues at different time points to see whether there is miR degradation in older specimens.
    3.To analyse miR targets in silico using candidate miRs identified from diseased tissue and experimental studies
    Primary Endpoint:
    A panel of miRs that may influence the development of fibrosis in the kidney will be defined.
    Secondary Endpoints:
    After validation of gene targets the data obtained from the proximal tubules of diseased tissue will be interrogated to assess whether the changes in miRs, or the identified changes to targets, are found more widely in disease and whether they correlate with clinical signs and symptoms.
    Interventions:
    none
    Key laboratory techniques:
    Laser Dissection Microdissection; Immunohistochemistry; qPCR; rtPCR

  • REC name

    East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    13/EE/0435

  • Date of REC Opinion

    6 Dec 2013

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion