Exosomal miRNAs in urine associated with children's cardiorenal parameters: a cross-sectional study

AIMS: The authors sought to examine associations between urinary exosomal miRNAs (exo-miRs), emerging biomarkers of renal health, and cardiorenal outcomes in early childhood. MATERIALS & METHODS: The authors extracted exo-miRs in urine from 88 healthy Mexican children aged 4–6 years. The authors measured associations between 193 exo-miRs and cardiorenal outcomes: systolic/diastolic blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate and urinary sodium and potassium levels. The authors adjusted for age, sex, BMI, socioeconomic status, indoor tobacco smoke exposure and urine specific gravity. RESULTS: Multiple exo-miRs were identified meeting a false discovery rate threshold of q < 0.1. Specifically, three exo-miRs had increased expression with urinary sodium, 17 with urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio and one with decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight urinary exo-miRs as early-life biomarkers of children's cardiorenal health.