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Analysis of the expression of HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and TGF-�²1 in primary nephritic syndrome patients and its significance

Author(s): W.J. Wang, X.Q. Qu, X.M. Yu, W. Lv and H.Y. Yu

We investigated the expression levels of high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB-1), CXC chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16), microRNA (miRNA)-30a and transforming growth factor b1 (TGF-b1) in primary nephritic syndrome (PNS) patients and the clinical significance of this expression. A total of 56 patients with PNS were included in the PNS group, while 50 healthy subjects formed the normal control group. Serum levels of HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and urinary TGF-b1 concentrations were quantified along with other biochemical indices, including serum albumin, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, and urinary proteins. The correlation between levels of HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and TGF-b1 and biochemical indexes was further analyzed. PNS grouppatients had significantly higher levels of HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA- 30a, and TGF-b1 compared to the control group (P < 0.05). PNS patients also had higher 24-h urinary protein, TG, TC, and LDL levels but lower serum albumin compared to subjects in the control group (P < 0.05). Serum HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and urinary TGF-b1 levels were all negatively correlated with serum albumin levels, but were positively correlated with TG, TC, LDL, and 24-h urinary protein (P < 0.05 in all cases). Additionally, a positive correlation existed among serum HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and urinary TGF-b1 levels (P < 0.01). HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and urinary TGF-b1 were highly expressed in PNS patients and may play important roles in the pathogenesis and development of PNS.