In a major medical breakthrough, Canadian scientists have found a small molecule called microRNA that could help protect the kidneys and keep them working well after serious injury.
This discovery may help millions of people around the world who suffer from chronic kidney disease.
Researchers at the CRCHUM, the research center of Université de Montréal’s hospital, discovered that a specific microRNA, named miR-423-5p, can be used as an early warning signal for kidney damage. More importantly, it might even help stop damage from getting worse.
The kidneys are full of tiny blood vessels called peritubular capillaries. These vessels remove waste from the blood and supply oxygen and nutrients to the kidneys.
When the kidneys are injured, like during surgery or after a transplant, these small blood vessels can be lost or damaged, leading to poor kidney function. Until now, doctors had no good way to check the health of these tiny vessels early enough to stop the damage.
This new study, published in JCI Insight, shows that miR-423-5p is found in the blood and its levels change when the kidneys are injured. The researchers tested this in mice with kidney damage and later confirmed it in 51 people who had received kidney transplants.
They found that the level of this microRNA in the blood gave clear clues about the health of the small blood vessels in the kidneys.
But that’s not all. The scientists tried injecting this microRNA into mice with kidney injuries. Amazingly, it helped preserve the small blood vessels and reduced the amount of damage. In the future, this could lead to treatments that protect the kidneys during surgery or after transplant.
Right now, this injection is only being tested in animals. But in people, especially during a transplant, doctors could possibly inject the microRNA directly into the kidney to help protect it. The researchers are also exploring other ways to deliver it to the kidney safely, such as using a mix of different microRNAs.
What makes this discovery even more exciting is that it could help patients with other health problems too. People with heart or lung failure, or even some brain diseases, also lose small blood vessels as they age or get sicker. A simple blood test using miR-423-5p could one day help diagnose or prevent these problems much earlier.
The research team, led by doctors Marie-Josée Hébert and Héloïse Cardinal, hopes that this tiny molecule could become a powerful tool for doctors. It could guide treatments, monitor progress, and even help scientists understand how different medicines affect kidney health.
This is a promising step toward better care for people with kidney problems and may also open new doors for treating other serious diseases linked to blood vessel damage.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about Common statin drug is linked to kidney damage and findings of How drinking coffee can affect your kidney health.
For more about kidney health, please read studies about Scientists find important cause of kidney disease and findings of Cruciferous vegetables may reverse kidney damage in diabetics.
The study is published in JCI Insight.
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