Berillo O, Huo KG, Fraulob-Aquino JC, et al. - Using an unbiased approach, researchers identified circulating microRNAs that could serve as biomarkers of hypertension-induced target organ damage. Fifteen normotensive individuals, 16 hypertensive patients, 15 with hypertension associated with other features of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and 16 with hypertension or chronic kidney disease (CKD) were analyzed. Let-7g-5p was linked to large vessel stiffening, miR-191-5p with MetS, and both microRNAs with eGFR and neutrophil and lymphocyte fraction or number and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio. They established decreased circulating let-7g-5p and miR-191-5p among patients with hypertension as independent biomarkers of chronic kidney disease which could have pathophysiological and therapeutic implications.