Expression of several long noncoding RNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

PurposeAccumulating evidence has linked long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) to autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. This study aimed to detect the expression levels of five lncRNAs (lnc0640, lnc3643, lnc5150, lnc7514 and lncagf) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as well as their correlation with clinical and laboratory features.Materials/methodsWe recruited 76 patients with SLE and 71 normal controls into the present study, and obtained PBMCs from the blood samples of all study subjects. Expression levels of lncRNAs were determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and their associations with clinical and laboratory characteristics were analyzed.ResultsLnc5150 expression levels were statistically significantly decreased (Z=−6.016, P < 0.001) compared with normal controls. Lnc3643 levels were also statistically significantly decreased in SLE patients with proteinuria compared with those without (Z=−2.934, P = 0.003), and the lnc7514 levels were statistically significantly lower in anti-dsDNA(+) patients compared with anti-dsDNA(-) patients. The expression levels of lnc3643 were correlated with C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lnc7514 was correlated with disease activity and ESR (all P < 0.01).ConclusionsThe aberrant lncRNA expression levels and their associations with laboratory features in SLE suggest their important role in SLE pathogenesis.