Clinical significance of reduced expression of lncRNA TUG1 in the peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of long non‐coding RNA taurine up‐regulated gene 1 (lncRNA TUG1) in the peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods With the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs: T‐cells, B‐cells and monocytes) collected from SLE patients and healthy controls, TUG1 expression was determined to identify the correlation with the clinicopathological features of SLE patients. Thereby, the diagnostic value of TUG1 expression in diagnosis of SLE was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results As compared to healthy controls, SLE patients manifested a lower expression of TUG1 in PBMCs, which was further decreased in SLE patients with lupus nephritis (P < .05). The lowest level of TUG1 was found in monocytes, rather than T‐cells or B‐cells (P < .05). Negative correlations were identified between TUG1 levels and SLE Disease Activity Index score (r = −.904, P < .001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = −.779, P < .001), disease duration (r = −.503, P < .001) and 24‐hour urinary protein (r = −.807, P < .001). Complement C3 levels were positively associated with TUG1 expression (r = .817, P < .001). In addition, the area under the ROC curve of diagnostic efficiency for SLE based on TUG1 was 0.982, and 0.930 for SLE with lupus nephritis. Conclusions The levels of lncRNA TUG1 was markedly lower in the SLE patients, which was more obvious in SLE patients with lupus nephritis, and thus, it could be a promising clinical diagnostic tool for SLE patients or SLE patients with lupus nephritis.

Long Noncoding RNAs and Circular RNAs in Autoimmune Diseases

“…Interestingly, the levels of the lncRNA TUG1 were significantly lower in the SLE patients, which was more evident in SLE patients affected by lupus nephritis. These results indicated that the lncRNA TUG1 may represent an interesting diagnostic tool for the identification of SLE patients with SLE patients with lupus nephritis providing new evidence for the diagnosis and prevention of SLE [ 45 ].…”

Involvement of long noncoding RNAs in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases

“…lncRNA TUG1 expression is markedly lower in PBMCs of SLE patients compared with that in healthy controls and even lower in SLE patients with LN. The level of TUG1 is correlated with SLEDAI, ESR, disease duration and 24-h urinary protein [ 111 ]. In a mouse SLE model, TUG1 was observed to be involved in the protective effect of NF-κB inhibition on kidney injury [ 112 ].…”

“… [ 106 ] Linc0597 Human plasma Up-regulated Negative correlates with C3 level [ 106 ] Human PBMC Down-regulated – [ 107 ] TUG1 Human PBMC Down-regulated Correlates with ESR, SLEDAI, disease duration and LN. [ 111 ] TUG1 Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate treated mouse Kidney Upregulated Involved in the protection of NF-kappaB inhibition on kidney injury. [ 112 ] RP11-2B6.2 Human Kidney biopsies from LN patients Up-regulated Regulates IFN-I pathway through epigenetic inhibition of SOCS1.…”

Exploring the Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Pathophysiology of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

“…Moreover, the expression of TUG1 was associated with complement C3 levels. The expression levels of TUG1 could effectively differentiate SLE patients with lupus nephritis [ 26 ]. A microarray-based study of lncRNA signatures in the T cells of SLE patients and normal persons led to the identification of more than 1900 dysregulated lncRNAs; among them were uc001ykl.1 and ENST00000448942, which were down-regulated in SLE patients.…”