Table 3 miRNAs as biomarkers in different clinical types of SLE

 miR-126

Positively correlated with disease activity

Induces DNA hypomethylation

[92, 118]

 miR-21

Positively correlated with the SLEDAI score, SLE flares, and remission

 miR-148a

↑(PBMCs)

Positively correlated with the SLEDAI score

Induces DNA hypomethylation

[91, 118, 119]

 miR-130b-3p

↑(serum)

Positively correlated with renal damage

Promote EMT by targeting ERBB2IP

[121]

 miR-26a and miR-30b

↓(kidney and urine)

Positively correlated with disease activity

Control of mesangial cell proliferation and cell cycle-related genes

[122]

Downregulate the anti-fibrotic protein suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) and upregulate profibrotic proteins in both proximal tubular and mesangial cells

 miR-150

↑(kidney)

Positive correlation with chronicity scores

[123]

 miR-26a

↑(urine exosomes)

↓(glomerular)

Positive correlation with lupus nephritis, urinary protein levels

Decreased the expression of genes associated with the podocyte differentiation and formation of the cytoskeleton

[125]

 miR-29c

↓(urinary exosomes)

Negatively correlated with the histological chronicity index and glomerular sclerosis

Exacerbate renal fibrosis by targeting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and increasing the deposition of extracellular matrix

[126]

 miR-146a

↓(CD4+ T cells, serum)

↑(urine)

Negative correlated with disease activity, proteinuria, lupus nephritis, GFR, histological activity index

Negative regulator in the IFN pathway

[94, 99, 132]

Controversial (CD4+ T cells, serum)

↑(urine)

Positively correlated with proteinuria and SLEDAI score

Aim at SHIP11 to maintain an activation threshold that allows B cells to respond to antigens

[99, 118, 130, 131]

 miR-155

↓(Lymphocytes)

↑miR-142-3p (plasma)

↑miR-142-5p (renal tissue)

No correlation with disease activity

Promoting T cell activity and antibody generation

 hsa-miR-142

Negatively correlated with the SLEDAI score, lupus nephritis (GFR and creatinine ratio)

Increased level of inflammatory chemokine regulated on activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) in SLE T cells

[90, 93, 133,134,135]

 miR-125a

↓(CD4+ T cells, urine)

[118, 137]

 miR-31

↓(T cell)

Negatively associated with diseases activity and urine protein

Reduced expression of IL-2

[139, 140]

 miR-21

↑(T cell)

Positively associated with diseases activity and urine protein

T cell activation

[139]

 hsa-miR-30e-5p, hsa-miR-92a-3p, and hsa-miR-223-3p

↑(plasma)

hsa-miR-223-3p is connected to oral ulcer and lupus anticoagulant

Positively associated with serous cavity effusion. CRP and anti-Clq antibody

Not mentioned

[141]

 miR-326

↑(Treg)

Regulating immune cell function

[142]