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The expression of GAS5, THRIL, and RMRP lncRNAs is increased in T cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract

Objective

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) comprise a large and diverse group of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with important regulatory roles in various biological processes, including the immune system regulation. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as an autoimmune disease initiates inflammation in the synovial joints. T cells infiltrating into the synovial membrane have an important role in the pathogenesis of RA. The aim of the current investigation was to analyze the expression of four lncRNAs in the T cells from RA patients and healthy controls.

Methods

In the current study, we investigated the expression of GAS5, RMRP, IFNϒ-AS1, and THRIL lncRNAs in circulating T cells from 20 patients with RA and 18 healthy matched controls by quantitative real-time PCR. T cell isolation was accomplished using the MAC method. We also analyzed the correlation between lncRNA expression and clinical parameters. Also, the mRNA expression levels of IL-17 and TNF-α and the association between lncRNAs and these cytokines were examined.

Results

The results indicate that T cells of RA patients display increased levels of GAS5 (3.31-fold, p = 0.007), RMRP (2.43-fold, p = 0.02), and THRIL (2.14-fold, p = 0.03) lncRNAs compared with those of controls. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between RMRP expression and disease duration in RA. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of GAS5, RMRP, and THRIL has a discriminative value in comparing RA patients and controls.

Conclusion

The results suggest lncRNAs may be involved in T cell dysfunction in RA. Further studies are required to see whether these lncRNAs have an effect on dysregulation of immune responses in RA disease.

Key Points

• 70% of non-coding sequences in the human genome are transcribed to RNA.

• A growing body of evidence shows the importance of lncRNAs in innate and adaptive immune cell differentiation and functions.

• Important recent works suggest a key role of immune cell lncRNAs in autoimmune processes and diseases including RA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Faculty of Science, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Mozhgan Moharamoghli, Vahideh Hassan-Zadeh & Ali Farazmand

  2. Department of Rheumatology, Alborz University of Medical Science, Karaj, Iran

    Elahe Dolatshahi

  3. Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Zahra Alizadeh

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  1. Mozhgan Moharamoghli
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Correspondence to Ali Farazmand.

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Moharamoghli, M., Hassan-Zadeh, V., Dolatshahi, E. et al. The expression of GAS5, THRIL, and RMRP lncRNAs is increased in T cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Rheumatol 38, 3073–3080 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-019-04694-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-019-04694-z

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