Linc-MAF-4 regulates Th1/Th2 differentiation and is associated with the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis by...

In this study, we strove to substantiate the ability of linc-MAF-4 to act as a regulator of pathogenesis during multiple sclerosis (MS). We recruited 34 patients who were diagnosed with MS according to the revised McDonald criteria. Six patients with MS and 5 healthy volunteers contributed peripheral blood mononuclear cells for microarray analysis. Subsequent knockdown and overexpression of linc-MAF-4 in naive CD4⁺ T cells from the additional 28 patients with MS was performed to track changes in CD4⁺ T-cell subsets and their function, as well as to confirm results from the prior microarray analysis. Expression of linc-MAF-4 increased significantly in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with MS compared with those of control participants. In addition, linc-MAF-4 regulated encephalitogenic T helper (T_h)1-cell differentiation in patients with MS. Transfection of synthetic linc-MAF-4 into naive CD4⁺ T cells facilitated T_h1-cell differentiation and inhibited T_h2-cell differentiation by directly inhibiting MAF, which is a T_h2-cell transcription factor. Linc-MAF-4 also promoted activation of CD4⁺ T cells from patients with MS. Expression level of linc-MAF-4 correlated with the annual relapse rate in patients with MS. Our results suggest that linc-MAF-4 is involved in the pathogenesis of MS, specifically via regulation of encephalitogenic T cells.-Zhang, F., Liu, G., Wei, C., Gao, C., Hao, J. Linc-MAF-4 regulates T_h1/T_h2 differentiation and is associated with the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis by targeting MAF.