MicroRNAs as a Potential Biomarker in Feline Kidney Disease

Abstract

Kidney failure is a very common disease in felines, more so than many may have thought. Due to there being very little research on kidney failure in felines there is not much understanding to what causes it and how it can be prevented. Since this disease in felines is quite similar to kidney failure in humans, this research may benefit further research on kidney failure. Therefore, it is important to identify the causes of kidney failure in felines in order to treat all patients at the earliest detectable stage. MicroRNAs are small, non‐coding RNAs that can down‐regulate the expression of protein coding genes by binding to the 3′UTR sites in their messenger RNAs. Prior research shows that kidney failure can be detected by microRNAs, making microRNAs a useful biomarker to kidney failure. The microRNAs may also help detect the early stages of kidney failure in felines making it easier to diagnose this disease. Our proposal is to test that circulating microRNAs may be useful biomarkers for detection of kidney failure. Liquid biopsies, blood samples, were collected in EDTA tubes from 8 healthy felines with no prior history of kidney failure and 8 felines who were diagnosed with kidney failure. Total serum RNS was isolated using miRNeasy Serum/Plasma kit. Isolated RNA was then reverse transcribed using miScript II RT Kit and lastly, miRNA was quantified using miScript SYBR green PCR Kit, along with miScript miRNA PCR Arrays.