36 Kidney MiRNA expression in BTBR ob/ob mice at a critical time point in disease development and progression

Objectives/Goals: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) affects 40% of diabetic patients, leading to renal failure, yet the molecular drivers remain elusive. MicroRNAs, noncoding regulators of gene expression, may hold the key. This study aims to identify key miRNAs in DKD, providing crucial insights for early intervention. Methods/Study Population: miRNA sequencing was conducted on kidneys from 8-week old male BTBR wild type and BTBR ob/ob mice. BTBR ob/ob mice lack the hormone leptin and spontaneously develop type 2 diabetes, with morphological renal lesions characteristic of human DKD. Total RNA was extracted from whole kidney sections and processed using the QIAseq miRNA library kit. Sequencing was performed on an Illumina NextSeq 550 platform. GeneGlobe analysis was used to identify differentially expressed miRNA functional pathways, while ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) was employed to predict master regulators and causal networks involved in DKD. Results/Anticipated Results: miRNA sequencing identified significantly differentially expressed miRNAs (p < 0.05) between 8-week-old BTBR WT and BTBR ob/ob male mice, including miR-34a (-6.86 fold), miR-122 (-5.01 fold), miR-129 (-2.23 fold), miR-142a (+2.78 fold), miR-346 (+4.66 fold), miR-547 (-2.49 fold), miR-592 (+11.81 fold), miR-802 (-6.95 fold), and miR-6539 (-7.93 fold). Qiagen GeneGlobe analysis revealed biological processes potentially targeted by these miRNAs, including endocytosis, phagocytosis, hyperglycemia (p = 7.59e-3), and insulin-dependent diabetes (p = 4.32e-4). IPA predicted activation of RRAS, a small GTPase regulating cell growth and signaling (Z-score +2), with miR-34a and miR-122 targeting MYC, PI3K, and TGF-β in DKD progression in BTBR ob/ob mice. Discussion/Significance of Impact: We identified kidney miRNA expression in BTBR ob/ob mice at a pivotal disease stage. miR-34a, miR-122, and RRAS emerged as key drivers in DKD progression, showing remarkable early biomarker potential. These findings lay the groundwork for early detection and innovative therapies to halt DKD and improve patient outcomes.