Differences in the expression of long noncoding RNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells indicate potential biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis

Hong-Miao Li; Li-Jun Wang; Yi-Ping Wang; Xiao-Mei Li; Hai-Feng Pan

doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112218

Differences in the expression of long noncoding RNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells indicate potential biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis

Int Immunopharmacol. 2024 May 10:134:112218. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112218. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hong-Miao Li¹, Li-Jun Wang², Yi-Ping Wang³, Xiao-Mei Li⁴, Hai-Feng Pan⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
² Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
³ Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Westmead, 2145 NSW, Australia.
⁴ Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China. Electronic address: lixiaomei@ustc.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China. Electronic address: panhaifeng@ahmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38733828
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112218

Abstract

Objective: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an increasingly important role in various autoimmune diseases. We aimed to characterize the expression profiles of lncRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from RA patients and to assess the potential of these lncRNAs as RA biomarkers.

Methods: Whole-transcriptome sequencing was used to establish a lncRNA expression profile. A total of 155 RA patients, 145 healthy controls, 59 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and 59 primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients were recruited for this study. Four candidate lncRNAs (linc00152, lnc-ADM-1, ITSN1-2, and lnc-FTH1-7) were validated via qRT-PCR in independent samples, and their expression, association with RA clinical features and value as RA biomarkers were evaluated.

Results: Linc00152 and lnc-ADM-1 exhibited upregulated expression (p = 0.001, p = 0.014, respectively), while ITSN1-2 and lnc-FTH1-7 exhibited downregulated expression (both p < 0.001, respectively) in RA patients compared to controls. Lnc-ADM-1 and lnc-FTH1-7 expression correlated positively with the C4 level (p = 0.016 and p = 0.012, respectively). ITSN1-2 levels were negatively associated with CRP levels (p = 0.024). Linc00152, lnc-ADM-1, ITSN1-2, and lnc-FTH1-7 showed potential as RA biomarkers, with the four-lncRNA panel distinguishing RA patients from controls, SLE patients, or pSS patients (AUC = 0.886, 0.746, and 0.749, respectively).

Conclusion: The altered expression of linc00152, lnc-ADM-1, ITSN1-2 and lnc-FTH1-7 in RA patients suggested that these genes may serve as potential biomarkers for RA and could be involved in its pathogenesis.

Keywords: Biomarker; Rheumatoid arthritis; Transcriptome sequencing; long noncoding RNA.