Dysregulation of long non-coding RNA profile in peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis patients

Long non-coding RNAs: a summary of their roles in placenta development and pathology†

Long non-coding RNAs are cellular transcripts that have ˃200 nucleotides in length and do not code for proteins. Due to their low expression levels, long non-coding RNAs were previously considered as mere transcriptional noise. However, current evidence indicates that they regulate a myriad of biological processes such as cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. Hence, their expression patterns are crucial indicators of the physiological or pathological states of cells, tissues, and organs. The utilization of long non-coding RNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the clinical management of several diseases have been suggested. Gradually, long non-coding RNAs are gaining a substantial attention in the field of feto-maternal medicine. After embryo implantation, the interactions between the trophoblast cells from the embryo and the uterus of the mother facilitate placenta development and pregnancy progression. These processes are tightly regulated, and their impairments result in pregnancy pathologies such as miscarriage and preeclampsia. Accumulating evidence implicates long non-coding RNAs in these processes. Herein, we have summarized the roles of several long non-coding RNAs in human placenta development, have proposed some mechanisms by which they participate in physiological and pathological placentation, have revealed some knowledge deficits, and have recommended ideal experimental approaches that will facilitate the clarification of the mechanistic actions of each long non-coding RNA at the feto-maternal interface during healthy and pathological pregnancies.

Multiple Sclerosis: Roles of miRNA, lcnRNA, and circRNA and Their Implications in Cellular Pathways

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative condition characterized by axonal damage and demyelination induced by autoreactive immune cells that occur in the Central Nervous System (CNS). The interaction between epigenetic changes and genetic factors can be widely involved in the onset, development, and progression of the disease. Although numerous efforts were made to discover new therapies able to prevent and improve the course of MS, definitive curative treatments have not been found yet. However, in recent years, it has been reported that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), acting as gene expression regulators, could be used as potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers to diagnose and fight MS. In this review, we discussed the role of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, as well as their expression level changes and signaling pathways that are related to preclinical and human MS studies. Hence, the investigation of ncRNAs could be important to provide additional information regarding MS pathogenesis as well as promote the discovery of new therapeutic strategies or biomarkers.

Molecular mechanism of lncRNAs in pathogenesis and diagnosis of auto-immune diseases, with a special focus on lncRNA-based therapeutic approaches

Autoimmune diseases are a diverse set of conditions defined by organ damage due to abnormal innate and acquired immune system responses. The pathophysiology of autoimmune disorders is exceedingly intricate and has yet to be fully understood. The study of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), non-protein-coding RNAs with at least 200 nucleotides in length, has gained significant attention due to the completion of the human genome project and the advancement of high-throughput genomic approaches. Recent research has demonstrated how lncRNA alters disease development to different degrees. Although lncRNA research has made significant progress in cancer and generative disorders, autoimmune illnesses are a relatively new research area. Moreover, lncRNAs play crucial functions in differentiating various immune cells, and their potential relationships with autoimmune diseases have received growing attention. Because of the importance of Th17/Treg axis in auto-immune disease development, in this review, we discuss various molecular mechanisms by which lncRNAs regulate the differentiation of Th17/Treg cells. Also, we reviewed recent findings regarding the several approaches in the application of lncRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of human autoimmune diseases, as well as current challenges in lncRNA-based therapeutic approaches to auto-immune diseases.

Significant up-regulation of lncRNAs in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an immune-related demyelinating defect. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) might influence the pathobiology and progression of NMOSD. The current study assessed expression level of NEAT1, PANDAR, MEG3 and TUG1 lncRNAs in the peripheral blood of NMOSD patients compared with healthy individuals. All mentioned lncRNAs were shown to be over-expressed in total NMOSD cases, male NMOSD cases and female NMOSD cases compared with the matching control subgroups. MEG3 had the most robust over-expression in patients subgroups compared with normal subjects. There was no noteworthy difference in the expression of any of lncRNAs between female and male patients. MEG3 had an ideal performance in the differentiation of NMOSD cases from healthy persons (Sensitivity and specificity values = 100%). Other lncRNAs could also efficiently separate NMOSD cases from control subjects (AUC values = 0.97, 0.89 and 0.88 for PANDAR, NEAT1 and TUG1, respectively). Cumulatively, NEAT1, PANDAR, MEG3 and TUG1 lncRNAs can be considered as appropriate disease markers for NMOSD.

Integrated Analysis of Immune Infiltration and Hub Pyroptosis-Related Genes for Multiple Sclerosis

Purpose

Studies on overall immune infiltration and pyroptosis in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are limited. This study explored immune cell infiltration and pyroptosis in MS using bioinformatics and experimental validation.

Methods

The GSE131282 and GSE135511 microarray datasets including brain autopsy tissues from controls and MS patients were downloaded for bioinformatic analysis. The gene expression-based deconvolution method, CIBERSORT, was used to determine immune infiltration. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and functional enrichments were analyzed. We then extracted pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) from the DEGs by using machine learning strategies. Their diagnostic ability for MS was evaluated in both the training set (GSE131282 dataset) and validation set (GSE135511 dataset). In addition, messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of PRGs was validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in cortical tissue from an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS. Moreover, the functional enrichment pathways of each hub PRG were estimated. Finally, co-expressed competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks of PRGs in MS were constructed.

Results

Among the infiltrating cells, naive CD4+ T cells (P=0.006), resting NK cells (P=0.002), activated mast cells (P=0.022), and neutrophils (P=0.002) were significantly higher in patients with MS than in controls. The DEGs of MS were screened. Analysis of enrichment pathways showed that the pathways of transcriptional regulatory mechanisms and ion channels associating with pyroptosis. Four PRGs genes CASP4, PLCG1, CASP9 and NLRC4 were identified. They were validated in both the GSE135511 dataset and the EAE model by using qRT-PCR. CASP4 and NLRC4 were ultimately identified as stable hub PRGs for MS. Single-gene Gene Set Enrichment Analysis showed that they mainly participated in biosynthesis, metabolism, and organism resistance. ceRNA networks containing CASP4 and NLRC4 were constructed.

Conclusion

MS was associated with immune infiltration. CASP4 and NLRC4 were key biomarkers of pyroptosis in MS.

Abnormal expression of MAPK14-related lncRNAs in the peripheral blood of patients with multiple sclerosis

Introduction

Contribution of MAPK14 in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been proposed by several studies. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) have been suggested to be functionally linked with Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14).

Methods

Expression levels of MAPK14 and its associated lncRNAs were measured in the circulation of MS patients compared with control subjects.

Results

Expression levels of NORAD and RAD51-AS1 were higher in total patients compared with controls (Expression ratio (95% CI) = 1.4 (1.04-1.89), P value = 0.015 and Expression ratio (95% CI) = 1.91 (1.43-2.6), P value = 0.0001, respectively). Conversely, ZNRD1ASP was under-expressed in cases compared with controls (Expression ratio (95% CI) = 0.61 (0.41-0.8), P value = 0.0005). In spite of the observed abnormal expression levels of these lncRNAs in the circulation of MS patients, their expressions were not correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, disease duration or age at disease onset.

Conclusion

To sum up, the current investigation shows dysregulation of MAPK14-related lncRNAs in MS patients.

Involvement of NRON and TUG1 long noncoding RNAs in inflammation and the pathogenesis of EAE

There is growing evidence that the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute to the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The role of lncRNAs nuclear repressor of NFAT (NRON) and Taurine up-regulated 1 (TUG1) in the inflammatory processes occurring in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS is yet to be investigated. Transcript levels of NRON and TUG1 in acute and chronic phases of EAE and cultured macrophages as well as the correlation between NRON and TUG1 expression with inflammatory cytokines, were evaluated in this study. EAE experimental model was induced in female C57BL/6 mice with subcutaneous injection of MOG35-55/CFA. Mice were scored for 28 days and then sacrificed. The expression of lncRNAs TUG1 and NRON in lumbar spinal cords, activated and controlled macrophages as well as the expression of IL-1, IL-6, and CDe-3 inflammatory cytokines, were assayed by real-time RT-PCR. The lncRNAs TUG1 and NRON were significantly down-regulated in lumbar spinal cords tissues in the acute phase of EAE compared to the control group. TUG1 and NRON were significantly down-regulated in macrophages treated with 10 ng lipopolysaccharide (LPS) compared to the control macrophages. A negative correlation was identified between NRON and TUG1 expression and IL-1, IL-6, and CDe-3 inflammatory cytokines. The present study demonstrates the dysregulation of lncRNAs TUG1 and NRON in spinal cord tissue lesions of EAE and activated macrophages, pointing to their potential role in the pathogenesis of EAE.

The expression profile of HAR1A and HAR1B in the peripheral blood cells of multiple sclerosis patients

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with varying degrees of axonal and neuronal damage. The onset and progression of the disease are influenced by several environmental and genetic variables. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have a crucial role in the pathophysiology of MS. Our study aimed to assess the levels of HAR1A and HAR1B lncRNA expression in the blood samples of MS patients and investigate the relationship between these lncRNAs and disease activity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The blood samples of 100 MS patients, including 82 relapsing-remitting (RR), 8 primary progressive (PP), and 10 secondary progressive (SP) MS cases, and 100 healthy controls were collected. Quantitative real-time PCR was used for the evaluation of gene expression. ROC curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of lncRNA levels. A significant decrease was detected in HAR1A expressions (P < 0.0001), and a moderate increase was also shown in HAR1B of SPMS patients (P value = 0.0189). HAR1A showed different expression levels in patients over forty (P value = 0.034). The expression levels of HAR1A and HAR1B were positively correlated in MS patients (r = 0.2003, P value = 0.0457). In addition, ROC curve results suggested that HAR1A can be introduced as a novel biomarker for MS diagnosis (AUC = 0.776).

CONCLUSION

The low serum level of HAR1A may be a potential molecular biomarker for MS diagnosis; however, no discernible difference was detected in the expression level of HAR1B in the blood samples of MS patients.

A review on the role of LINC00173 in human cancers

Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 173 (LINC00173) is a long non-coding RNA with especial function in the tumorigenic process. Studies in different types of cancers support an oncogenic role for LINC00173 except for studies in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, cervical cancer, pancreatic cancer and gastric cancer. In breast and lung cancers, both oncogenic and tumor suppressor roles have been reported for LINC00173. LINC00173 can serve as a molecular sponge for miRNAs. miR-218/Etk, miR-511-5p/VEGFA, miR-182-5p/AGER, miR-765/NUTF2, miR-765/PLP2, miR-182-5p/FBXW7, miR-338-3p/Rab25, miR‑641/RAB14 and miR-1275/BCL2 are examples of the miRNA/mRNA axes being regulated by LINC00173 in the context of cancer. The current review provides a summary of different studies on the role of LINC00173 in these cancers.

Non-coding RNAs in immunoregulation and autoimmunity: Technological advances and critical limitations

Immune cell function is critically dependent on precise control over transcriptional output from the genome. In this respect, integration of environmental signals that regulate gene expression, specifically by transcription factors, enhancer DNA elements, genome topography and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are key components. The first three have been extensively investigated. Even though non-coding RNAs represent the vast majority of cellular RNA species, this class of RNA remains historically understudied. This is partly because of a lag in technological and bioinformatic innovations specifically capable of identifying and accurately measuring their expression. Nevertheless, recent progress in this domain has enabled a profusion of publications identifying novel sub-types of ncRNAs and studies directly addressing the function of ncRNAs in human health and disease. Many ncRNAs, including circular and enhancer RNAs, have now been demonstrated to play key functions in the regulation of immune cells and to show associations with immune-mediated diseases. Some ncRNAs may function as biomarkers of disease, aiding in diagnostics and in estimating response to treatment, while others may play a direct role in the pathogenesis of disease. Importantly, some are relatively stable and are amenable to therapeutic targeting, for example through gene therapy. Here, we provide an overview of ncRNAs and review technological advances that enable their study and hold substantial promise for the future. We provide context-specific examples by examining the associations of ncRNAs with four prototypical human autoimmune diseases, specifically rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis. We anticipate that the utility and mechanistic roles of these ncRNAs in autoimmunity will be further elucidated in the near future.

Identification of potential regulatory long non-coding RNA-associated competing endogenous RNA axes in periplaque regions in multiple sclerosis

Slow-burning inflammation at the lesion rim is connected to the expansion of chronic multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. However, the underlying processes causing expansion are not clearly realized. In this context, the current study used a bioinformatics approach to identify the expression profiles and related lncRNA-associated ceRNA regulatory axes in the periplaque region in MS patients. Expression data (GSE52139) from periplaque regions in the secondary progressive MS spinal cord and controls were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO), which has details on mRNAs and lncRNAs. Using the R software’s limma package, the differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were found. The RNA interactions were also found using the DIANA-LncBase, miRTarBase, and HMDD databases. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine whether there were any positive correlations between DEmRNAs and DElncRNAs in the ceRNA network. Finally, lncRNA-associated ceRNA axes were created based on co-expression and connections between DElncRNA, miRNA, and DEmRNA. We used the Enrichr tool to enrich the biological process, molecular function, and pathways for DEmRNAs and DElncRNAs. A network of DEmRNAs’ protein-protein interactions was developed, and the top five hub genes were found using Cytoscape and STRING. The current study indicates that 15 DEmRNAs, including FOS, GJA1, NTRK2, CTNND1, and SP3, are connected to the MS ceRNA network. Additionally, four DElncRNAs (such as TUG1, ASB16-AS1, and LINC01094) that regulated the aforementioned mRNAs by sponging 14 MS-related miRNAs (e.g., hsa-miR-145-5p, hsa-miR-200a-3p, hsa-miR-20a-5p, hsa-miR-22-3p, hsa-miR-23a-3p, hsa-miR-27a-3p, hsa-miR-29b-3p, hsa-miR-29c-3p, hsa-miR-34a-5p) were found. In addition, the analysis of pathway enrichment revealed that DEmRNAs were enriched in the pathways for the “MAPK signaling pathway”, “Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection”, “Human immunodeficiency virus one infection”, “Lipid and atherosclerosis”, and “Amphetamine addiction”. Even though the function of these ceRNA axes needs to be investigated further, this study provides research targets for studying ceRNA-mediated molecular mechanisms related to periplaque demyelination in MS.

Long Intergenic Noncoding RNAs Affect Biological Pathways Underlying Autoimmune and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) are a class of independently transcribed molecules longer than 200 nucleotides that do not overlap known protein-coding genes. LincRNAs have diverse roles in gene expression and participate in a spectrum of biological processes. Dysregulation of lincRNA expression can abrogate cellular homeostasis, cell differentiation, and development and can also deregulate the immune and nervous systems. A growing body of literature indicates their important and multifaceted roles in the pathogenesis of several different diseases. Furthermore, certain lincRNAs can be considered potential therapeutic targets and valuable diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers capable of predicting the onset of a disease, its degree of activity, or the progression phase. In this review, we discuss possible mechanisms and molecular functions of lincRNAs in the pathogenesis of selected autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders: multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This summary can provide new ideas for future research, diagnosis, and treatment of these highly prevalent and devastating diseases.

Circulating long noncoding RNAs as novel bio-tools: Focus on autoimmune diseases

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are an emerging class of non-coding RNAs that do not encode proteins. These RNAs have various essential regulatory functions. Irregular expression of lncRNAs has been related to the pathological process of varied diseases, and are considered promising diagnostic biomarkers. LncRNAs can release into the circulation and be stable in body fluids as circulating lncRNAs. A subset of circulating lncRNAs that exist in exosomes are referred to as exosomal lncRNA molecules. These lncRNAs are highly stable and resist RNases. Exosomes have captured a great deal of attention due to their involvement in regulating communications between cells. In conditions of autoimmune disease, exosomes play critical roles in the pathological processes. In this context, circulating lncRNAs have been shown to modulate the immune response and indicated as prognosis and diagnostic biomarkers for autoimmune diseases. This review highlights the role of circulating lncRNAs (particularly exosomal) as diagnostic biomarkers for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and Sjögren's syndrome.

LncRNA: a new perspective on the study of neurological diseases

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNA with a length greater than 200 nt. It has a mRNA-like structure, formed by splicing after transcription, and contains a polyA tail and a promoter, of whom promoter plays a role by binding transcription factors. LncRNAs' sequences are low in conservation, and other species can only find a handful of the same lncRNAs as humans, and there are different splicing ways during the differentiation of identical species, with spatiotemporal expression specificity. With developing high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics, found that more and more lncRNAs associated with nervous system disease. This article deals with the regulation of certain lncRNAs in the nervous system disease, by mean of to understand its mechanism of action, and the pathogenesis of some neurological diseases have a fresh understanding, deposit a foundation for resulting research and clinical treatment of disease.

LncRNA-miRNA network analysis across the Th17 cell line reveals biomarker potency of lncRNA NEAT1 and KCNQ1OT1 in multiple sclerosis

Differentiation of CD⁴⁺ T cells into Th17 cells is an important factor in the onset and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) and Th17/Treg imbalance. Little is known about the role of lncRNAs in the differentiation of CD⁴⁺ cells from Th17 cells. This study aimed to analyse the lncRNA‐miRNAs network involved in MS disease and its role in the differentiation of Th17 cells. The lncRNAs in Th17 differentiation were obtained from GSE66261 using the GEO datasets. Differential expression of lncRNAs in Th17 primary cells compared to Th17 effector cells was investigated by RNA‐seq analysis. Next, the most highlighted lncRNAs in autoimmune diseases were downloaded from the lncRNAs disease database, and the most critical miRNA was extracted by literature search. Then, the lncRNA‐miRNA interaction was achieved by the Starbase database, and the ceRNA network was designed by Cytoscape. Finally, using the CytoHubba application, two hub lncRNAs with the most interactions with miRNAs were identified by the MCODE plug‐in. The expression level of genes was measured by qPCR, and the plasma level of cytokines was analysed by ELISA kits. The results showed an increase in the expression of NEAT1, KCNQ1OT1 and RORC and a decrease in the expression of FOXP3. In plasma, an upregulation of IL17 and a downregulation of TGFB inflammatory cytokines were detected. The dysregulated expression of these genes could be attributed to relapsing‐remitting MS (RR‐MS) patients and help us understand MS pathogenesis better.

Expression and diagnostic values of MIAT, H19, and NRON long non-coding RNAs in multiple sclerosis patients

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Various long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) appear to have an important role in the pathophysiology of MS. This study aimed at evaluating the expression levels of lncRNAs, MIAT, H19, and NRON in peripheral blood of MS cases to a healthy control group. We collected blood samples of 95 MS cases (76 relapsing–remitting (RR) and 19 secondary progressive (SP) MS) and 95 controls. We used quantitative real-time PCR for the evaluation of gene expression. The correlation between expression with clinical parameters was analyzed by a multiple linear regression model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was carried out to detect the diagnostic potential of lncRNAs levels according to the area under the curve (AUC).

Results

MIAT, H19, and NRON were significantly increased in the RRMS and SPMS subgroups compared to the controls. We found that the H19 and MIAT expression significantly were higher in SPMS compared with RRMS. Patients with RRMS had a greater level of the average NRON expression is compared with SPMS patients. The expression level of H19 significantly was higher in females relative to male patients. Based on the area under curve (AUC) values, NRON had the best performance in the differentiation of MS patients from controls (AUC = 0.95, P < 0.0001). A combination of MIAT, H19, and NRON expression levels could be useful in differentiating MS patients with 93.6% sensitivity, 98.9% specificity, and diagnostic power of 0.96 (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The levels of MIAT, H19, and NRON in peripheral blood could be important biomarkers for MS diagnosis.

Long Non-Coding RNAs, Novel Offenders or Guardians in Multiple Sclerosis: A Scoping Review

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases worldwide. MS results in serious neurological dysfunctions and disability. Disturbances in coding and non-coding genes are key components leading to neurodegeneration along with environmental factors. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are long molecules in cells that take part in the regulation of gene expression. Several studies have confirmed the role of lncRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases such as MS. In the current study, we performed a systematic analysis of the role of lncRNAs in this disorder. In total, 53 studies were recognized as eligible for this systematic review. Of the listed lncRNAs, 52 lncRNAs were upregulated, 37 lncRNAs were downregulated, and 11 lncRNAs had no significant expression difference in MS patients compared with controls. We also summarized some of the mechanisms of lncRNA functions in MS. The emerging role of lncRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases suggests that their dysregulation could trigger neuronal death via still unexplored RNA-based regulatory mechanisms. Evaluation of their diagnostic significance and therapeutic potential could help in the design of novel treatments for MS.

Scavenging the hidden impacts of non-coding RNAs in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease that causes severe neurological dysfunction leading to disabilities in patients. The prevalence of the disease has been increasing gradually worldwide, and the specific etiology behind the disease is not yet fully understood. Therapies aimed against treating MS patients have been growing lately, intending to delay the disease progression and increase the patients' quality of life. Various pathways play crucial roles in developing the disease, and several therapeutic approaches have been tackling those pathways. However, these strategies have shown several side effects and inconsistent efficacy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to act as key players in various disease pathogenesis and development. Several proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory miRNAs have been reported to participate in the development of MS. Hence, the review assesses the role of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in regulating immune cell functions better to understand their impact on the molecular mechanics of MS.

Dysregulation of long noncoding RNA MEG3 and NLRC5 expressions in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: is there any correlation?

Long noncoding RNA MEG3 and NLRC5 genes are both involved in the immune system and the regulation of NLRC5 by MEG3 is documented in rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, we intended to evaluate the association between the expressions of MEG3 and NLRC5 in multiple sclerosis (MS). Forty relapsing and remitting MS (RRMS) patients (20 in each group) and twenty healthy individuals were enrolled. The expression level of MEG3 and NLRC5 was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Sub-group analysis demonstrated that the expression level of MEG3 is reduced in the relapse patient group compared to remission and healthy groups (p < 0.001). The expression level of NLRC5 was higher in whole patients compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, a negative correlation was observed between the expression of these two genes (r = -0.73, p < 0.0001). To conclude, our findings showed the dysregulation of MEG3 and NLRC5 expressions in RRMS patients. Also, the converse association of MEG3 and NLRC5 reflects that the role of MEG3 in MS development is probably mediated by modulation of NLRC5.

Construction of a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network to determine the key regulators of the Th1/Th2 imbalance in multiple sclerosis

Aim: The exact epigenetic mechanisms that determine the balance of T helper (Th)1 and Th2 cells and autoimmune responses in multiple sclerosis (MS) remain unclear. We aim to clarify these. Methods: A combination of bioinformatics analysis and molecular evaluations was utilized to identify master hub genes. Results: A competitive endogenous RNA network containing six long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), 21 miRNAs and 86 mRNAs was provided through enrichment analysis and a protein-protein interaction network. NEAT1 and MALAT1 were found as differentially expressed lncRNAs using Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE21942). Quantitative real-time PCR results demonstrate dysregulation in the RUNX3 (a regulator of Th1/Th2 balance), GATA3 and TBX21, as well as miR-544a and miR-210-3p (which directly target RUNX3). ELISA also confirmed an imbalance in IFN-γ (Th1)/IL-4 (Th2) in MS patients. Conclusion: Our findings introduce novel biomarkers leading to Th1/Th2 imbalance in MS.

Long non-coding RNA NEAT1 and its targets (microRNA-21 and microRNA-125a) in rheumatoid arthritis: Altered expression and potential to monitor disease activity and treatment outcome

Background

The present study aimed to explore the association of long non‐coding RNA nuclear‐enriched abundant transcript 1 (lnc‐NEAT1) with inflammation, disease activity, treatment outcome, and its targets (microRNA [miR]‐21 and miR‐125a) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were sampled from 130 RA patients at baseline, week (W) 6, and W12, as well as from 60 healthy controls (HCs) after enrollment. Meanwhile, the expressions of lnc‐NEAT1, miR‐21, and miR‐125a were detected by reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

lnc‐NEAT1 was elevated, but miR‐21 and miR‐125a were declined in RA patients compared with HCs (all p < 0.001); meanwhile, lnc‐NEAT1 was negatively correlated with miR‐21 and miR‐125a (both p < 0.05) in RA patients. Besides, elevated lnc‐NEAT1 but declined miR‐21 and miR‐125a were correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C‐reactive protein and the 28‐joint Disease Activity‐ESR score (all p < 0.05) in RA patients. Moreover, lnc‐NEAT1 was declined from baseline to W12 in RA patients (p < 0.001). Additionally, lnc‐NEAT1 at W12 was declined in response patients compared with non‐response patients (p = 0.006), and also decreased in remission patients compared with non‐remission patients (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

lnc‐NEAT1 and its targets (miR‐21 and miR‐125a) correlate with RA risk and disease activity, and declined lnc‐NEAT1 associates with better treatment outcome to some extent in RA patients, suggesting that lnc‐NEAT1 might be a potential biomarker to monitor disease activity and treatment outcome in RA.

NEAT1 lncRNA and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a representative neurological disease that is known to devastate entire motor neurons within a period of just a few years. Discoveries of the specific pathologies of relevant RNA-binding proteins, including TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS), and the causative genes of both familial and sporadic ALS have provided crucial information that could lead to a cure. In recent ALS research the GGGGCC-repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene was identified as one of the most important pathological findings, suggesting the significance of both nuclear dysfunction due to dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs) and RNA toxicity (such as pathological alterations of non-coding RNAs). In research on model animals carrying ALS-related molecules, the determination of whether a factor is protective or toxic has been controversial. Herein, we review the findings regarding NEAT1 RNA and C9orf72 GGGGCC repeats associated with ALS, from the viewpoint of conversion from the protective stage in the nucleus in early-phase ALS to late-phase induction of cell death. This review will provide insights for the development of RNA effectors as novel ALS treatments.

Non-coding Natural Antisense Transcripts: Analysis and Application

Non-coding natural antisense transcripts (ncNATs) are regulatory RNA sequences that are transcribed in the opposite direction to protein-coding or non-coding transcripts. These transcripts are implicated in a broad variety of biological and pathological processes, including tumorigenesis and oncogenic progression. With this complex field still in its infancy, annotations, expression profiling and functional characterisations of ncNATs are far less comprehensive than those for protein-coding genes, pointing out substantial gaps in the analysis and characterisation of these regulatory transcripts. In this review, we discuss ncNATs from an analysis perspective, in particular regarding the use of high-throughput sequencing strategies, such as RNA-sequencing, and summarize the unique challenges of investigating the antisense transcriptome. Finally, we elaborate on their potential as biomarkers and future targets for treatment, focusing on cancer.

Long non-coding RNAs and their involvement in bipolar disorders

Non-coding RNAs (nc-RNAs) can be defined as RNA molecules that are not translated into proteins. Although the functional meaning of many nc-RNAs remains still to be verified, several of these molecules have a clear biological importance, which goes from translation of mRNAs to DNA replication. Indeed, regulatory nc-RNAs can be classified into two groups: short non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and long-non coding RNAs (lncRNAs). In the last years, lncRNAs have gained increasing importance in the study of gene regulation, helping authors understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular physiology and pathology. LncRNAs are greater than 200 bp and accumulate in nucleus, cytoplasm and exosomes with high tissue specificity, acting in cis or in trans in order to exert enhancer or silencer modulation on gene expression. Such regulatory features, which are widespread in human cells and tissues, can be disrupted in several morbid states. Recent evidences may suggest a disruption of lncRNAs in bipolar disorders, a cluster of severe, chronic and disabling psychiatric diseases, which are characterized by major depressive states cyclically alternating with manic episodes. Here, the authors reviewed genes, classification, biogenesis, structures, functions and databases regarding lncRNAs, and also focused on bipolar disorders, in which some lncRNAs, especially those involved in inflammation and neuronal development, has reported to be dysregulated.

What do we know about the role of lncRNAs in multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory and degenerative disease of the central nervous system of unknown aetiology although well-defined evidence supports an autoimmune pathogenesis. So far, the exact mechanisms leading to autoimmune diseases are still only partially understood. We know that genetic, epigenetic, molecular, and cellular factors resulting in pathogenic inflammatory responses are certainly involved. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-protein coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that play an important role in both innate and acquired immunity, so there is great interest in lncRNAs involved in autoimmune diseases. The research on multiple sclerosis has been enriched with many studies on the molecular role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of the disease and their potential application as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. In particular, many multiple sclerosis fields of research are based on the identification of lncRNAs as possible biomarkers able to predict the onset of the disease, its activity degree, its progression phase and the response to disease-modifying drugs. Last but not least, studies on lncRNAs can provide a new molecular target for new therapies, missing, so far, a cure for multiple sclerosis. While our knowledge on the role of lncRNA in multiple sclerosis has recently improved, further studies are required to better understand the specific role of lncRNAs in this neurological disease. In this review, we present the most recent studies on molecular characterization of lncRNAs in multiple sclerosis disorder discussing their clinical relevance as biomarkers for diagnosis and treatments.

LncRNA Neat1 positively regulates MAPK signaling and is involved in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands. Recent, studies have shown that the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT1 plays a crucial role in regulating the immune response. However, studies on the lncRNA NEAT1 in pSS are limited. Exploring the role of the lncRNA NEAT1 in the pathogenesis of pSS was the purpose of this study.

METHODS

The expression of NEAT1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with pSS and healthy controls (HCs) was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and siRNA or immune stimulation with PMA/ionomycin were used to perform loss-and-gain-of-function experiments. RT-PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blot were performed to detect the RNA and protein levels of specific genes induced by PMA/ionomycin stimulation. Microarray analysis was used to generate an overview of the genes that might be regulated by NEAT1.

RESULTS

Compared with that in HC patient cells, the expression of NEAT1 in pSS patients was mainly increased in peripheral T cells, including CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. Additionally, the expression of NEAT1 in CD4⁺ T cells of patients with pSS was positively correlated with the course of disease. NEAT1 expression in Jurkat cells was induced by PMA/ionomycin stimulation upon activation of the TCR-p38 pathway. Upregulation of NEAT1 expression also increased the expression of CXCL8 and TNF-α. Knocking down NEAT1 expression with an ASO suppressed the expression of CXCL8 and TNF-α in PMA/ionomycin-stimulated Jurkat cells. Then, we found that NEAT1 regulated the activation of MAPK pathway to regulate NEAT1-induced factors, selectively activating the expression of p-p38 and p-ERK1/2. Furthermore, we also detected the expression profile of Jurkat cells stimulated by PMA/ionomycin when NEAT1 was silenced or not, in order to produce an overview of NEAT1-regulated genes.

CONCLUSION

These results provide a new understanding of the mechanisms of pSS and reveal that NEAT1 is a positive regulator of pSS, which is of substantial significance to its pathogenesis. Thus, NEAT1 provides a potential therapeutic target for pSS.

Expression Analysis of Long Non-coding RNA Lnc-DC in HLA-DRB1*15:01-Negative Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Probable Cause for Gender Differences in Multiple Sclerosis Susceptibility?

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects male and female patients differently. Several studies have been performed to explain the gender differences in MS susceptibility, but the genetic causes underlying gender differences remain unknown. The association between multiple sclerosis and the HLA-DRB1*15:01 haplotype has been confirmed to be female-specific. We hypothesized other immunological components such as lnc-DC may be gender-specific among multiple sclerosis patients, especially when MS patients are negative for the HLA-DRB1*15:01 allele. Therefore, the current study, considering the results of previous studies, aimed to evaluate the expression level of the lnc-DC gene in HLA-DRB1*15:01-negative female patients with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS). A total of 50 MS female patients and 50 female healthy controls were enrolled in this observational case-control study. HLA-DRB1*15:01, as a critical risk factor for MS, was ruled out in all patients. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from all patients and total RNA was isolated and cDNA synthesis was carried out. The gene expression of lnc-DC was evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR. Our results have shown that lnc-DC expression level was significantly higher in total MS female patients compared with female controls (P = 0.0044). In addition, the correlation between lnc-DC with disease duration, EDSS, and age at onset did not reach a statistical significance in our study (r = 0.0336, P = 0.817; r = 0.0914, P = 0.5278 and r = 0.0743, P = 0.6083, respectively). Our results give further evidence that lnc-DC may play a gender-dependent role in MS pathogenesis.

Identification of New Potential LncRNA Biomarkers in Hirschsprung Disease

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a neurocristopathy defined by intestinal aganglionosis due to alterations during the development of the Enteric Nervous System (ENS). A wide spectrum of molecules involved in different signaling pathways and mechanisms have been described in HSCR onset. Among them, epigenetic mechanisms are gaining increasing relevance. In an effort to better understand the epigenetic basis of HSCR, we have performed an analysis for the identification of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) by qRT-PCR in enteric precursor cells (EPCs) from controls and HSCR patients. We aimed to test the presence of a set lncRNAs among 84 lncRNAs in human EPCs, which were previously related with crucial cellular processes for ENS development, as well as to identify the possible differences between HSCR patients and controls. As a result, we have determined a set of lncRNAs with positive expression in human EPCs that were screened for mutations using the exome data from our cohort of HSCR patients to identify possible variants related to this pathology. Interestingly, we identified three lncRNAs with different levels of their transcripts (SOCS2-AS, MEG3 and NEAT1) between HSCR patients and controls. We propose such lncRNAs as possible regulatory elements implicated in the onset of HSCR as well as potential biomarkers of this pathology.

The emerging role of lncRNAs in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with various clinical manifestations. The characteristic of MS is that myelin is attacked by the body's immune system and increases the electrical capacity of axons, and is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of the transmission block. Studies have shown that epigenetic factors participate in the development of MS. LncRNAs are highly abundant and heterogeneous linear RNA transcripts with lengths exceeding 200 nucleotides and no protein-coding potential. Currently, pieces of evidence have demonstrated that lncRNAs have fundamental actions in multiple cellular pathways, including immune system regulation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cancer cell growth and metastasis, cellular homeostasis, and embryo development. It has been demonstrated that epigenetic mechanisms have an abundant role in the pathogenesis of MS in which the role of lncRNAs as epigenetic regulatory molecules in molecular processes has been proven. In this paper, we have focused on the correlation between MS and lncRNAs, the role of lncRNA in the pathogenesis of the disease, and the diagnostic and prognostic potential of lncRNA in MS.

Recent advances of long noncoding RNAs involved in the development of multiple sclerosis

Given the rapid increase of patients with autoimmune diseases and the lack of satisfactory therapies, the discovery of novel and effective therapeutic targets have been in an urgent demand. Recent studies have revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), which provides a new opportunity of uncovering novel mechanism associated with the progression of MS. This review highlights the dysregulation of lncRNAs in the development of MS in patients and animal models. Additionally, the potential clinical relevance of lncRNAs severed as therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers are discussed.

Role of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in multiple sclerosis: a brief review

Multiple sclerosis (MS) as chronic autoimmune inflammatory neurological disease of the central nervous system (CNS) occurs due to several environmental and genetic factors, whose pathogenesis is associated with genes with regulatory role in the immune system. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are able to reportedly regulate responses of immune systems and expression of genes, and show the tissue specificity and complexity of biofunctions. Various studies have suggested that the aberrant LncRNA expression is an underlying factor involved in the incidence of MS and that the analysis of the expression profile of these molecules can be a specific biomarker of MS for preventing the course of the disease or responding to treatment. The purpose of this research was to review the recent studies for exploring the functions of LncRNAs in the processes leading to MS disease.

Associations Between Genomic Variants in lncRNA-TRPM2-AS and lncRNA-HNF1A-AS1 Genes and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex genetic trait characterized by demyelination of central nervous system (CNS), inflammation, and progressive neurological dysfunction. There is evidenced that autophagy and stress mechanisms are tightly linked with MS. Previous studies have demonstrated that LncRNAs TRPM2-AS and HNF1A-AS1 are involved in oxidative stress and autophagy, respectively. In the current study, we investigated the association of TRPM2-AS and HNF1A-AS1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with MS risk in 300 Iranian patients and 300 healthy controls. Our results have shown that T allele of the rs933151 was statistically significant underrepresented in MS patients compared with healthy subjects (OR (95% CI) = 0.696 (0.532-0.911), P = 0.005). This SNP was associated with lower MS risk in codominant and dominant models (OR (95% CI) = 0.68 (0.48-0.96), P value = 0.032; OR (95% CI) = 0.65 (0.47-0.91), P value = 0.012, respectively). The rs7953249 was not associated with MS susceptibility in any inheritance models (P values of 0.73, 0.46, 0.61, and 0.71 for codominant, dominant, recessive, and overdominant models, respectively). Present study highlighted a novel association at the TRPM2-AS gene (SNP rs933151) with MS susceptibility.

Evaluation of The Expression Levels of Three Long Non-Coding RNAs in Multiple Sclerosis

Objective

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disorder involving both inflammatory and neurodegenerative responses. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been had an emerging role as the biomarkers of different disorders, including autoimmune diseases. Previous studies have shown that NR_003531.3 (MEG3a), AC000061.1_201, and AC007182.6 play a role in the pathogenesis of human autoimmune diseases. However, the potential significance of these lncRNAs, as the diagnostic biomarkers of MS, has not been studied yet. We aimed to quantitatively evaluate the expression levels of NR_003531.3, AC000061.1_201, and AC007182.6 in peripheral blood samples of MS patients in comparison with healthy controls.

Materials and Methods

In this case-control study, the blood samples from 20 MS patients and 10 healthy controls were collected. Total RNA was extracted, and the expression levels of three selected lncRNAs were quantitatively measured using the quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) method.

Results

We detected a significant down-regulation in the expression of NR_003531.3 in MS patients, while no marked changes were observed in the expression of AC000061.1_201 and AC007182.6 in patients compared with controls. Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, NR_003531.3 could discriminate MS patients from healthy subjects effectively. Regarding the prognosis of MS patients, NR_003531.3 is significantly and inversely correlated with the expanded disability status scale (EDSS).

Conclusion

The potential role of NR_003531.3 lncRNA as a diagnostic biomarker to distinguish MS patients is proposed. Prognostically, NR_003531.3 correlates with lower disability rates in MS patients.

The Putative Association of TOB1-AS1 Long Non-coding RNA with Immune Tolerance: A Study on Multiple Sclerosis Patients

The hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis is the breakdown of peripheral tolerance in the immune system. However, its molecular mechanism is not completely understood. Since long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has played important roles in regulation of immunological pathways, here, we evaluated the expression of a novel lncRNA, TOB1-AS1, and its putative associated coding genes in the mechanism of maintaining immune tolerance in peripheral blood of MS patients to assess their possible roles in MS pathogenesis. In this study, 39 MS patients and 32 healthy matched controls were recruited. Real-time PCR standard curve method was used to quantify transcript levels of TOB1-AS1, TOB1, SKP2, and TSG. In addition, the potential sex hormone receptor binding sites on target genes promoter were analyzed using JASPR software. This work demonstrates a negative correlation between TOB1-AS1 expression and EDSS of patients. Also, a robust dysregulation of co-expression of TOB1-AS1 lncRNA and the coding genes in MS patients compared to controls was observed. Such dysregulation in this pathway may be related to MS pathogenesis and response to interferon treatment.

Genetic and Molecular Biology of Multiple Sclerosis Among Iranian Patients: An Overview

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one if the common types of autoimmune disorders in developed countries. Various environmental and genetic factors are associated with initiation and progression of MS. It is believed that the life style changes can be one of the main environmental risk factors. The environmental factors are widely studied and reported, whereas minority of reports have considered the role of genetic factors in biology of MS. Although Iran is a low-risk country in the case of MS prevalence, it has been shown that there was a dramatically rising trend of MS prevalence among Iranian population during recent decades. Therefore, it is required to assess the probable MS risk factors in Iran. In the present study, we summarized all of the reported genes until now which have been associated with MS susceptibility among Iranian patients. To clarify the probable molecular biology of MS progression, we categorized these reported genes based on their cellular functions. This review paves the way of introducing a specific population-based diagnostic panel of genetic markers among the Iranian population for the first time in the world.

Down-regulation of taurine-up-regulated gene 1 attenuates inflammation by sponging miR-9-5p via targeting NF-κB1/p50 in multiple sclerosis

AIMS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system characterized by widespread inflammation. LncRNA taurine-up-regulated gene 1 (TUG1) has been reported to be involved in multiple biological processes and human diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of lncRNA TUG1 in MS and the underlying mechanism.

MAIN METHODS

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in mice by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide 35-55 (MOG35-55). Lentiviral vectors encoding sh-TUG1 was constructed to silence TUG1 in MOG-EAE mice by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection. The effect of TUG1 on inflammation in MS was evaluated by real-time PCR, Western blot, ELISA and Hematoxylin-eosin staining. To further study the mechanism of TUG1 in MS, TUG1 knockdown and miR-9-5p overexpression were performed in LPS-induced BV2 cells.

KEY FINDINGS

Down-regulation of TUG1 improved mice behavior, reduced granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) level, decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17, and increased IL-10 in EAE mice. Notably, TUG1 expression was negatively correlated with miR-9-5p expression, while positively correlated with NF-κB1/p50. Knockdown of TUG1 or enforced expression of miR-9-5p inhibited LPS-induced inflammation in BV2 cells, while these effects were abolished by inhibition of miR-9-5p. We further verified that TUG1 negatively regulated miR-9-5p expression and NF-κB1/p50 is a direct target of miR-9-5p.

SIGNIFICANCE

Down-regulation of TUG1 attenuates MS through inhibition of inflammation by sponging miR-9-5p via targeting NF-κB1/p50, suggesting that TUG1 is a potential therapeutic target for MS treatment.

Knockdown of NEAT1 induces tolerogenic phenotype in dendritic cells by inhibiting activation of NLRP3 inflammasome

Rationale: Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tol-DCs) play essential roles in immune-related diseases and induce immune tolerance by shaping T-cell responses. Accumulating evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important regulatory roles in the immune system. However, the potential roles and underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in tol-DCs remain unclear. Methods: RNA in-situ hybridization, histochemistry, and qRT-PCR were performed to determine the distribution and expression of NEAT1 in DCs. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the tolerogenic function of DCs. Small sequencing, followed by bioinformatic analysis, was performed to determine the target genes of NEAT1. The mechanism of NEAT1 was explored using a luciferase reporter, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, and Immunofluorescence. In-vivo experiments were used to investigate the induction of immune tolerance via NEAT1-knockdown DCs. Results: Our results show that lncRNA NEAT1 can induce tolerogenic phenotype in DCs. Mechanistically, small RNA-seq analysis revealed that NEAT1 knockdown preferentially affected the expression of miR-3076-3p. Furthermore, NEAT1 used the NLRP3 inflammasome as a molecular decoy for miR-3076-3p, thus facilitating the expression of tolerogenic phenotype in DCs. Moreover, the transcription factor E2F1 acted as a repressor of NEAT1 transcription via activity of H3K27ac. Our results also indicate that NEAT1 knockdown in DCs can induce immune tolerance in models of experimental autoimmune myocarditis and heart transplantation. Conclusions: Taken together, our study shows the mechanism used by NEAT1 in inducing tol-DCs and highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting NEAT1 for the treatment of immune-related diseases.

Peripheral expression of long non-coding RNAs in bipolar patients

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have established roles in the pathogenesis of diverse human disorders including neuropsychiatric disorders.

METHODS

In the current study, we evaluated expression levels of six apoptosis-related lncRNAs (CCAT2, TUG1, PANDA, NEAT1, FAS-AS1 and OIP5-AS1) in the peripheral blood of bipolar disorder (BD) patients and healthy subjects to assess their contribution in the pathogenesis of BD.

RESULTS

CCAT2, TUG1 and PANDA were up-regulated in total BD patients compared with total healthy subjects (P values = 0.006, <0.001 and 0.004 respectively) while OIP5-AS1 was down-regulated (P = 0.001). When expression levels of these genes were compared between patients and sex-matched healthy subjects, CCAT2 and TUG1 expression levels were only different in male subgroups; while PANDA expression was different in both male and female subgroups compared with the corresponding control subgroups. Transcript levels of lncRNAs were not correlated with any of demographic or clinical parameters of BD patients or controls after adjustment for gender. Pairwise correlations between expression levels of lncRNAs followed a disease-dependent manner. Based on receiver operating characteristic curves, among the assessed lncRNAs TUG1 had the highest diagnostic power in BD. Combination of transcript levels of CCAT2, TUG1, PANDA and OIP5-AS1 improved both sensitivity and specificity resulting in diagnostic power of 0.96.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrated a possible role of certain lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of BD and potentiated them as diagnostic markers in this disorder.

Expression Profile of Selected MicroRNAs in the Peripheral Blood of Multiple Sclerosis Patients: a Multivariate Statistical Analysis with ROC Curve to Find New Biomarkers for Fingolimod

Multiple sclerosis (MS) as a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) has been associated with dysregulation of several genes including miRNAs. In the present study, we assessed transcript levels of seven miRNAs (miR-96-5p, miR-211-5p, miR-15a, miR-34a-5p, miR-204-5p, miR-501-5p, and miR-524-5p) in the peripheral blood of MS patients compared with healthy subjects in association with response to fingolimod treatment. Expression levels of miR-211-5p and miR-34a-5p were significantly decreased in MS patients compared with healthy subjects (P values of 0.002 and 0.47). While subgroup analysis showed downregulation of miR-211-5p in both fingolimod responders and non-responders, miR-34a-5p expression was only decreased in responders. Moreover, miR-204-5p was downregulated in non-responder male patients compared with male controls. The current study underscores the role of miRNAs in determination of response to fingolimod in MS patients.

MALAT1 Genomic Variants and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) with a possible role in the regulation of immune responses. A previous study has demonstrated down-regulation of this lncRNA in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In the current study, we genotyped two MALAT1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 428 Iranian MS patients and 505 healthy subjects. The G allele of the rs619586 was significantly under-represented in MS patients compared with controls (OR (95% CI) = 0.65 (0.46-0.92), adjusted P value = 0.03). This SNP was associated with lower MS risk in dominant model (OR (95% CI) = 0.63 (0.43-0.91), adjusted P value = 0.03). The rs3200401 was not associated with MS risk in any inheritance model. Moreover, the A T haplotype (rs619586 and rs3200401, respectively) within MALAT1 was associated with MS risk. The current study provides additional evidences for contribution of MALAT1 in the pathogenesis of MS.

Integrative analysis of OIP5-AS1/HUR1 to discover new potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a devastating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system associated with demyelination and axonal injury. This study was designed to find potential lncRNAs and their targets that are associated with the molecular basis of MS pathogenesis. In this study, peripheral blood samples were obtained from 50 relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) patients and 50 healthy controls. lncRNAs and their target were selected for validation using TaqMan Real-Time PCR. Interactions were studied based on approaches that used to investigation biological functions and signaling pathways affected by differentially expressed messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The results of this study indicate an increase in the expression of HUR1 (p = 0.0001), CPSF7 (p = 0.02), and reduction of CSTF2 expression (p = 0.04). Also, an increase in the expression of OIP5-AS1 (p = 0.01) was observed in men less than 30 years old. We performed a comparative analysis of the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and then we ranked them as candidate biomarkers according to a decreasing area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and plotted the results. Dysregulation of lncRNA expression has been linked to diseases. Further studies on the HUR1 gene can be used as diagnostic tools for the identification of high-risk individuals in families with a history of disease before, during, and even after treatment. Our data uncovered the expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in MS patients, which will help delineate the molecular mechanisms in MS pathogenesis. However, further studies need to determine the precise role of these genes in the pathological process in MS.

LncRNAs, MALAT1 and lnc-DC as potential biomarkers for multiple sclerosis diagnosis

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in gene regulation and show greater tissue specificity and complexity of biological functions. There is on-going research in their contribution in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). Our study aimed at the evaluation of serum levels of lncRNAs, MALAT1 and lnc-DC in MS patients and the investigation of the association between these lncRNAs and the disease activity. Serum from 45 MS patients and 45 healthy controls was separated. MALAT1 and lnc-DC expression levels were assayed by qRT-PCR. MALAT1 and lnc-DC were significantly increased in MS patients (P=0.004 and P=0.006, respectively) in comparison with controls. There was a significant increase in expression of MALAT1 in secondary progressive MS (SPMS) subgroup compared with controls (P<0.0001); however, significant elevation of lnc-DC was demonstrated in relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) subtype (P=0.003) compared with normal controls. A positive association between the expression levels of MALAT1 and lnc-DC (r = 0.513, P < 0.0001) in MS patients was detected. Moreover, positive correlation was observed between MALAT1and lnc-DC in RRMS (r = 0.569, P = 0.001). Serum levels of MALAT1 and lnc-DC may serve as potential novel molecular biomarkers for MS diagnosis and may provide a new direction for its treatment.

Long non-coding RNAs: Diverse roles in various disorders

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of transcripts larger than 200 nucleotides that are not translated to proteins. These transcripts regulate expression of numerous genes at different levels by acting as decoys, scaffolds, and enhancers. Thus they regulate cell development, differentiation and fate.

OBJECTIVE

To find the role of lncRNAs in various diseases.

METHODS

We searched PubMed and google scholar and summarized the data regarding the role of lncRNAs in cancer and neurologic disorders.

RESULTS

Several recent studies have shown that their expressions are up-/down-regulated in malignant tissues. Consequently, they have suggested that lncRNAs can differentiate cancer samples from normal samples. Their application as biomarker is not limited to cancers. In several neurologic or psychiatric disorders researchers have found aberrant expression of lncRNAs.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, lncRNAs constitute a novel vast area of research to find answer to fundamental biologic questions.