Circulating miRNA-21-5p, miRNA-486-5p, and miRNA-122-5p as predictors of coronary artery calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) promotes coronary artery calcification (CAC), MicroRNAs may serve as potential biomarkers for its progression. This study aimed to evaluate the circulating miRNA-21-5p, miRNA-486-5p, and miRNA-122-5p as potential diagnostic markers of CAC in CKD-MBD patients and assess their association with CAC score and identify their putative target genes and associated biological pathways using an in-silico approach. This case-control investigation encompassed 150 participants (50 CKD-MBD, 50 CKD, and 50 healthy controls) were analyzed for miRNA expression via qRT-PCR and CAC score via non-contrast cardiac computed tomography (CT) Agatston scoring. miRNA-21-5p expression was significantly elevated in CKD-MBD group and positively correlated with parathyroid hormone (PTH), fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), and CAC score. Conversely, miR-486-5p was significantly downregulated and showed a negative correlation with CAC score in CKD-MBD group. miRNA-122-5p showed no significant differences or associations across all patients’ groups. In-silico analysis revealed that miR-486-5p potentially targets genes critically involved in renal pathology, and cardiac calcium homeostasis. MiR-21-5p was predicted to target a reno-protective gene, indicating a pathogenic role for miR-21-5p upregulation in CKD. Circulating miRNA-486-5p and miRNA-21-5p were promising non-invasive biomarkers that could be used to improve the diagnosis of coronary calcification in CKD-MBD patients. The in-silico study suggests that they play distinct yet interconnected roles in the molecular mechanisms underlying CKD and CAC.
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BibTeX
@article{osman2026circulating,
title = {{Circulating miRNA-21-5p, miRNA-486-5p, and miRNA-122-5p as predictors of coronary artery calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease}},
author = {Enas Ahmed Osman and Noha Hamdy Eltaweel and Medhat Madbouly and Mohamed Hosni Kamel Abdelmaksoud and Mohamed Moharam Mohamed Hussin and Mohammed Ghanem Gaber and Anas Hassan Ibrahim and Ahmed Mohamed Ali Elmaghraby and Farida Mohamed Khanany},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-71224-8},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-71224-8},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Circulating miRNA-21-5p, miRNA-486-5p, and miRNA-122-5p as predictors of coronary artery calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease
AU - Enas Ahmed Osman
AU - Noha Hamdy Eltaweel
AU - Medhat Madbouly
AU - Mohamed Hosni Kamel Abdelmaksoud
AU - Mohamed Moharam Mohamed Hussin
AU - Mohammed Ghanem Gaber
AU - Anas Hassan Ibrahim
AU - Ahmed Mohamed Ali Elmaghraby
AU - Farida Mohamed Khanany
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/04
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-71224-8
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-71224-8
AB - Chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) promotes coronary artery calcification (CAC), MicroRNAs may serve as potential biomarkers for its progression. This study aimed to evaluate the circulating miRNA-21-5p, miRNA-486-5p, and miRNA-122-5p as potential diagnostic markers of CAC in CKD-MBD patients and assess their association with CAC score and identify their putative target genes and associated biological pathways using an in-silico approach. This case-control investigation encompassed 150 participants (50 CKD-MBD, 50 CKD, and 50 healthy controls) were analyzed for miRNA expression via qRT-PCR and CAC score via non-contrast cardiac computed tomography (CT) Agatston scoring. miRNA-21-5p expression was significantly elevated in CKD-MBD group and positively correlated with parathyroid hormone (PTH), fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), and CAC score. Conversely, miR-486-5p was significantly downregulated and showed a negative correlation with CAC score in CKD-MBD group. miRNA-122-5p showed no significant differences or associations across all patients’ groups. In-silico analysis revealed that miR-486-5p potentially targets genes critically involved in renal pathology, and cardiac calcium homeostasis. MiR-21-5p was predicted to target a reno-protective gene, indicating a pathogenic role for miR-21-5p upregulation in CKD. Circulating miRNA-486-5p and miRNA-21-5p were promising non-invasive biomarkers that could be used to improve the diagnosis of coronary calcification in CKD-MBD patients. The in-silico study suggests that they play distinct yet interconnected roles in the molecular mechanisms underlying CKD and CAC.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -