Long noncoding RNA HULC is an independent predictor of COVID-19 severity and mortality in relation to microRNA-9 and IL-6

<abstract> <p>LncRNA HULC regulates inflammation in vascular endothelial cells resulting in their dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction contributes to severe COVID-19. lncRNA HULC targets miRNA-9 that play roles in the pathogenesis and progression of COVID-19 through the acute inflammatory response mediated by IL-6. This study aimed to evaluate the role of lncRNA HULC, miRNA-9, and IL-6 in estimating the severity and predicting the prognosis of COVID-19. There were 38 non-severe, 38 severe COVID-19 patients, and 38 healthy controls enrolled in this study. Expression of lncRNA HULC and miRNA-9 was performed using RT-qPCR. ELISA was utilized to measure serum IL-6. Expression of lncRNA HULC and IL-6 level were increased in severe patients compared to non-severe patients and controls (p &lt; 0.001). MiRNA-9 showed the lowest expression levels in the severe patients in comparison with non-severe patients and controls (p &lt; 0.001) lncRNA HULC was negatively correlated with miRNA-9 (p &lt; 0.001, r = −0.582) and positively correlated with IL-6 (p &lt; 0.001, r = 0.567). Furthermore, miRNA-9 showed a negative correlation with IL-6 (p &lt; 0.001, r = −0.0466). For severity prediction, lncRNA HULC expression had an adjusted OR of 52.5 (95% CI: 1.43−192.2, p = 0.031). The lncRNA HULC had an adjusted mortality hazard ratio of 1.9 (95% CI: 1.02−3.56, p = 0.043) after the adjustment of IL-6. So, in COVID-19 patients, the lncRNA HULC had a positive correlation with IL-6 and a negative correlation with miRNA-9. The COVID-19 severity and mortality appear to be predicted independently by the lncRNA HULC.</p> </abstract>

Brain and Acute Leukemia, Cytoplasmic Gene Overexpression as a Prognostic Factor in Egyptian De novo Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

Background: Brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic (BAALC) gene is identified on chromosome 8q22.3 and implicated in normal hematopoiesis. BAALC gene overexpression is associated with poor outcome. Methods: We aimed to evaluate BAALC expression in de novo Egyptian acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases and determine its prognostic value. We recruited 70 patients with de novo AML diagnosed and treated at clinical pathology and medical oncology departments, fulfilling inclusion criteria in our prospective study and evaluated BAALC expression level. Patients received induction therapy. The Institutional Review Board approved our study. Results: The mean age was 39.2 years ± 11.87, (18–60) with a male/female ratio of 3/2. The cutoff value of BAALC as a prognostic factor was 2.11 with sensitivity (86.1%), specificity (80%), positive predictive value (88.6%), and negative predictive value (76.2%.) (P < 0.001), 43 (61.4%) patients had high BAALC expression. Seventy-two percent of patients in the low BAALC group achieved complete remission (CR) compared to 42.1% in high BAALC expression group (P = 0.03). Patients with low BAALC (123.1 ± 4.9) had longer mean survival time than high BAALC group (45.85 ± 5.1) (P = 0.000). Conclusion: High-BAALC expression is an adverse prognostic factor, with a higher risk of relapse, lower CR rates, and lower survival in Egyptian de novo AML patients.