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miR-147 Represses NDUFA4, Inducing Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Tubular Damage in Cold Storage Kidney Transplantation

Jiefu Zhu, Xiaohong Xiang, Xiaoru Hu, Chenglong Li, Zhi-Xia Song, Zheng Dong

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2023

35 citations

Abstract

Significance Statement Cold storage-associated transplantation (CST) injury occurs in renal transplant from deceased donors, the main organ source. The pathogenesis of CST injury remains poorly understood, and effective therapies are not available. This study has demonstrated an important role of microRNAs in CST injury and revealed the changes in microRNA expression profiles. Specifically, microRNA-147 (miR-147) is consistently elevated during CST injury in mice and in dysfunctional renal grafts in humans. Mechanistically, NDUFA4 (a key component of mitochondrial respiration complex) is identified as a direct target of miR-147. By repressing NDUFA4, miR-147 induces mitochondrial damage and renal tubular cell death. Blockade of miR-147 and overexpression of NDUFA4 reduce CST injury and improve graft function, unveiling miR-147 and NDUFA4 as new therapeutic targets in kidney transplantation. Background Kidney injury due to cold storage–associated transplantation (CST) is a major factor determining the outcome of renal transplant, for which the role and regulation of microRNAs remain largely unclear. Methods The kidneys of proximal tubule Dicer (an enzyme for microRNA biogenesis) knockout mice and their wild-type littermates were subjected to CST to determine the function of microRNAs. Small RNA sequencing then profiled microRNA expression in mouse kidneys after CST. Anti–microRNA-147 (miR-147) and miR-147 mimic were used to examine the role of miR-147 in CST injury in mouse…

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