20.500.12556/DiRROS-24387 Circulating miRNAs as potential non-invasive biomarkers for ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis Introduction: 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. ANCA biomarker glomerulonephritis microRNA vasculitis epigenetics ANCA biološki označevalec glomerulonefritis mikroRNA vaskulitis epigenetika true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Neznano 2025-11-26 13:53:17 2025-11-26 13:53:17 2025-11-27 03:58:56 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Opis vira z dne 25. 8. 2025; str. 1-12 Vol. 16, [Article no.] 1599043 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno apc 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 616-097 1664-3224 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1599043 246506499 RAZ_Bosnjak_Matic_2025.pdf RAZ_Bosnjak_Matic_2025.pdf 1 6AC47B2CB420D34F9ECF3504325B024C 1eb30347e04eac50376f35a154821917be775b1485faf62d4e39c5894f6fb947 0a5254a5-cac7-11f0-94a7-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=36305 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1599043/full 1 e2e57244-cac6-11f0-94a7-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=36303 Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana 0 0 0