Microarray-based transcriptional profiling of a mouse model of autoimmune hepatitis

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides that do not typically code for a protein. lncRNAs have regulatory roles in many physiological processes, and their dysregulation can contribute to cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the onset of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. However, lncRNA expression changes in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), a form of inflammation induced by immunological tolerance disorders, are poorly understood. Here, for the first time to our knowledge, we used microarrays to profile 1161 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs; 608 up- and 553 down-regulated) and 11 512 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs; 5189 up- and 6323 down- regulated) in a concanavalin A-induced AIH mouse model. We used quantitative real-time PCR to confirm the expression of eight DELs and DEMs, and analyzed the coexpression relationship between them. Potential biological functions of screened DELs and DEMs were predicted with Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis. DEL-DEM interaction networks were also constructed. Our study revealed the roles of DELs and DEMs in the pathogenesis of AIH. We also provided potential candidate biomarkers that may have potential for future development into possible diagnostics or as a treatment for this disorder.