Differential long non‑coding RNA expression profiles in the peripheral blood and CD4+ T cells of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

The human transcriptome is primarily composed of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are key regulatory molecules of multiple biological processes. In the present study, the expression profiles of lncRNAs in the peripheral blood and CD4 + T cells of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were determined. Based on the expression profiles, 493 lncRNAs and 374 mRNAs were identified to be differentially expressed in the peripheral blood of active RA patients and healthy donors. Further verification of lncRNAs was performed using reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q) PCR analysis of peripheral blood from 5 healthy donors and 5 patients with active RA and 14 additional differentially expressed genes were identified. CD4 + T cells in peripheral blood from 12 patients with active RA and 8 healthy donors were isolated using magnetic beads and qPCR was used to assess differentially expressed lncRNAs. The results suggested that 7 lncRNAs were upregulated and 2 were downregulated. The results indicated that these 9 lncRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of RA. An increased ratio of Th17: T-regulatory (Treg) cells was also observed. It may be hypothesized that LncRNAs serve important roles in the differentiation of CD4 + T cells. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that these 9 lncRNAs are of potential clinical diagnostic value for RA. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the correlation coefficient between Ensembl transcript (ENST)00000569543 and complement C4 was 0.623 (P<0.05), and that between ENST00000420096 and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody or disease activity evaluation score, the correlation coefficient was 0.662 and 0.605, respectively (P<0.05 for each). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest a possible role of lncRNAs in the differentiation of CD4 + T cells and the pathogenesis of RA, as well as the potential value as diagnostic biomarkers for active RA.

Noncoding RNAs and Virus and Treatment in Allergic Rhinitis

“…More interestingly, a large number of noncoding fragments were found in peripheral blood cells of patients with asthma, including natural antisense chains, pseudogenes, and differential expression of ncRNA between genes [ 14 ]. In addition, some scholars found a large number of lncRNA in CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, with phased expression [ 15 , 16 ]. At the same time, the role of miRNA in regulating innate immune responses, especially macrophages and granulocytes, has been shown to alter cell development, differentiation, and the release of inflammatory factors.…”

Dysregulation of lncRNAs in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Biomarkers, Pathogenesis and Potential Therapeutic Targets

“…In addition to the five lncRNAs introduced above, seven upregulated lncRNAs and two down-regulated lncRNAs were detected in peripheral blood CD4 + T cells from 12 active RA patients and eight healthy individuals using magnetic beads (Li et al, 2020a). These evidences showed that lncRNAs play important regulatory role in T cell abnormalities through corresponding mechanisms.…”

LncRNA linc00152/NF‐κB feedback loop promotes fibroblast‐like synovial cells inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis via regulating miR‐103a/TAK1 axis and YY1 expression

“…lncRNA was originally considered to be "junk" RNA, but in recent years research works have found that lncRNA plays an important role in many life activities such as dose compensation effect, epigenetic regulation, cell cycle regulation, and cell differentiation regulation 10,11 . In recent years, more and more lncRNAs have been found to play an important role in the occurrence and development of RA 12,13 . These lncRNAs were found to participate in the regulation of apoptosis, 14 inflammatory factor secretion, 15,16 proliferation, and migration 13 in RAFLS.…”

“… 10 , 11 In recent years, more and more lncRNAs have been found to play an important role in the occurrence and development of RA. 12 , 13 These lncRNAs were found to participate in the regulation of apoptosis, 14 inflammatory factor secretion, 15 , 16 proliferation, and migration 13 in RAFLS.…”