OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether plasma microRNA-200 family expressions could serve as diagnostic biomarkers in patients with lupus nephritis (LN), and their association with disease severity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 101 adult LN patients and 100 adult health volunteers were recruited in our study. A blood sample was obtained from all participants, and total RNA was extracted from plasma. Real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the relative expression of microRNA (miRNA). SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) score was calculated to evaluate the overall disease severity. RESULTS: Plasma miR-200b-5p, miR-141-5p, and miR-200c-5p expressions were decreased in LN patients compared to that in health controls (HCs). Multivariate logistic regression model revealed that plasma miR-200b-5p, miR141-5p, and miR-200c-5p expressions were independent protective factors for predicting LN states. Receiver operating curve (ROC) was conducted to assess the diagnostic value of miR-200b-5p, miR-141-5p, and miR-200c-5p, and they revealed good diagnostic value with the area under curve (AUC) of 0.748, 0.748, 0.723, respectively. When miR-200b-5p, miR-141-5p, and miR-200c-5p are combined each other, the AUC increased to 0.936, suggesting a great diagnostic value of LN. Also, plasma miR-141-5p was observed to be negatively associated with serum creatinine and SLEDAI score, and the inverse correlations were found of miR-200c-5p with SLEDAI score, as well as miR-200b-3p with proteinuria. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating miR-200b-5p, miR-141-5p, and miR-200c-5p expressions could be served as novel and convincing diagnostic biomarkers for LN.