Diagnostic Value and Mechanism of Action of Serum miR-1281 Involved in T2DM and Complications of DKD.

Objective: To research the diagnostic value and mechanism of miR-1281 involved in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

Methods: One hundred and eighteen patients with T2DM (68 DKD patients) and 35 healthy individuals were included. Fasting venous blood and one-time morning urine were collected for biochemical testing. RT-qPCR detected miR-1281 expression, ROC curve assessed the diagnostic value of miR-1281 for T2DM and DKD, and logistic regression predicted risk factors affecting the progression of DKD. ELISA analysed inflammatory cytokine expression, and Pearson correlation assessed its relevance to miR-1281. CCK8 detected cell proliferation and flow cytometry recorded apoptosis.

Results: miR-1281 was upregulated in T2DM patients and increased more significantly in DKD patients. The ROC curves indicated that miR-1281 had diagnostic value in predicting T2DM and DKD, and miR-1281 was closely related to the pathological characteristics of DKD patients. The logistic results showed that increased miR-1281 expression was a risk factor for DKD progression. ELISA showed that inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α) were significantly increased in patients with T2DM, and Pearson correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between miR-1281 and inflammatory cytokine expression. The high-glucose environment promoted cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis, and increased inflammatory factor levels, but transfection of the miR-1281 inhibitor resisted the adverse effects of the high-glucose environment on cells.

Conclusion: miR-1281 promotes glomerular cell proliferation, inhibits apoptosis, and increases the level of intracellular inflammation, leading to impaired renal function in T2DM patients.