Chronic Kidney Disease: New Biomarker Found
- Canadian researchers have identified a microRNA that could protect small blood vessels and bolster kidney function following severe injury, a potential breakthrough for the millions diagnosed with chronic...
- The study, co-authored by UdeM medical professors Marie-Josée Hébert and Héloïse Cardinal, along with research associate Francis Migneault, focuses on the loss of peritubular capillaries, a key indicator...
- Kidney injuries, frequently enough stemming from interrupted blood flow, can diminish the number of these small blood vessels, severely impacting kidney function.
Canadian scientists have made a critically important breakthrough, identifying a microRNA, miR-423-5p, that protects small blood vessels adn could revolutionize the fight against chronic kidney disease. This discovery offers a potential early diagnostic tool and a promising treatment avenue for the millions affected by chronic renal failure. The research, published in JCI Insight, reveals this biomarker can assess kidney health and microvascular conditions earlier than ever before. injecting this microRNA preserved blood vessels and limited damage in mice, providing hope for improved interventions. The team at the CRCHUM envisions a test to evaluate the health of small blood vessels,especially in high-risk patients,and anticipate benefits extending to other diseases. For more medical news visit News Directory 3. Discover what’s next as researchers explore new delivery methods to help patients.
MicroRNA Discovery Could Protect Kidney Function After Injury
Updated May 28, 2025
Canadian researchers have identified a microRNA that could protect small blood vessels and bolster kidney function following severe injury, a potential breakthrough for the millions diagnosed with chronic renal failure. The team, based at the CRCHUM, the hospital research center affiliated with Université de Montréal, published their findings in JCI Insight.
The study, co-authored by UdeM medical professors Marie-Josée Hébert and Héloïse Cardinal, along with research associate Francis Migneault, focuses on the loss of peritubular capillaries, a key indicator of chronic renal failure. These tiny vessels, located in the kidneys, filter waste and transport vital oxygen and nutrients.
Kidney injuries, frequently enough stemming from interrupted blood flow, can diminish the number of these small blood vessels, severely impacting kidney function. According to Hébert, a test using the newly identified biomarker could evaluate the state of these vessels much earlier, allowing doctors to better assess microvascular health in high-risk patients, including the elderly or those undergoing transplants and cardiovascular interventions.
Migneault noted that fluctuating levels of miR-423-5p microRNA were first observed in mice with acute kidney injuries and later confirmed in transplant recipients. This biomarker could help clinical teams determine if interventions are improving or harming the health of small blood vessels. Moreover, injecting this microRNA into mice with kidney injuries preserved the small blood vessels and limited kidney damage.
“Using this biomarker, a test could be developed to evaluate the status of the small blood vessels much earlier,” Hébert said. “Doctors in hospitals could then better evaluate the microvascular health of higher-risk patients.”
While direct injection into the kidney is feasible during transplants, the scientists are exploring choice delivery methods for the microRNA, or a microRNA cocktail, to protect remaining small blood vessels.
What’s next
The discovery of this microRNA, miR-423-5p, and its potential impact on kidney function and microvascular health, may also extend to patients with cardiac failure, pulmonary failure, or certain neurodegenerative diseases, where the loss of small blood vessels plays a important role. Hébert suggests that this could have a significant impact on the health of Canadians. Research is ongoing to determine if existing medications impact small blood vessel health.