Circulating miRNAs as potential non-invasive biomarkers for ANCA-associated glomerulonephritisBošnjak, Matic (Avtor) Večerić-Haler, Željka (Avtor) Pipan Tkalec, Živa (Avtor) Tomšič, Jakob (Avtor) Boštjančič, Emanuela (Avtor) Kojc, Nika (Avtor) ANCAbiomarkerglomerulonephritismicroRNAvasculitisepigeneticsIntroduction: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is characterized by necrotizing small vessel vasculitis that frequently manifests as glomerulonephritis (AAV-GN). An accurate noninvasive biomarker reflecting active AAV-GN remains elusive. The knowledge of microRNAs (miRNAs), which have been considered as disease-specific biomarkers, is scarce and lacks validated data in AAV. Methods: This study validated a renal tissue expression profile of candidate miRNAs specific to AAV-GN selected through prior screening using independent cohorts. The analysis was extended to serum samples to explore the potential of a circulating miRNA panel as a noninvasive biomarker for active AAV-GN. To substantiate the findings, we correlated the molecular data with clinical and histologic markers of AAV-GN activity. Results: We identified miR-21-3p, miR-181a-5p, and miR-181d-5p as potential biomarkers distinguishing AAV-GN from non-AAV renal diseases and healthy controls. In addition, miR-21-3p and miR-181d-5p correlated with the presence of active AAV-GN, while miR-181a-5p differentiated AAV-GN subtypes based on ANCA antigen specificity. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the combined serum expression of miR-21-3p and miR-181a-5p reliably distinguished AAV-GN from other renal pathologies, including ANCA-positive cases without histologic evidence of AAV-GN. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the potential of circulating miRNA expression signature as a noninvasive biomarker for ongoing AAV-GN in the appropriate setting. Larger confirmatory studies are essential to support the clinical application of miRNA-based biomarkers in AAV-GN diagnostics and disease monitoring.20252025-11-26 13:53:17Neznano24387UDK: 616-097ISSN pri članku: 1664-3224DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1599043COBISS_ID: 246506499sl