The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Africa remains poorly characterized, due partly to the lack of appropriate diagnostic strategies. Although in recent years the diagnostic and prognostic utility of microRNAs (miRNAs) have gained prominence in the context of CKD, its value has not been evaluated in African populations. We investigated the expression of whole blood miRNAs (miR-126-3p, -30a-5p, -1299, -182-5p and -30e-3p) in a total sample of 1449 comprising of 13.3% individuals with CKD (stage 1-5) and 26.4% male participants, as well as the association of these miRNAs with prevalent CKD, in a community-based sample of South African adults. We used Reverse Transcription Quantitative Real-Time PCR (RT-qPCR) to analyze miRNA expression. There was an increased expression in whole blood miR-126-3p, -30a-5p, -1299 and -182-5p in individuals with CKD, compared to those without (all p ≤ 0.036), whereas miR-30e-3p showed no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.482). Only miR-126-3p, -182-5p and -30e-3p were independently associated with increased risk of CKD (all p ≤ 0.022). This study showed for the first time that there is a dysregulation of whole blood miR-126-3p, -30a-5p, -1299 and -182-5p in South Africans of mixed-ancestry with CKD. More research is needed to ascertain their role in CKD risk screening in African populations.
© 2022. The Author(s).