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Association between long noncoding RNA taurine-upregulated gene 1 and microRNA-377 in vitiligo
Maha Alhelf1,2, Laila A Rashed1, Noura Ragab1
1Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Background:
Taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) is one of the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that plays a role in melanogenesis. MicroRNA-377 (miRNA-377) is a conserved noncoding RNA that regulates angiogenesis and promotes oxidative stress. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are components of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. PPAR-γ activators stimulate melanogenesis. Interleukin (IL)-17 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several immunological diseases. This work aimed at detecting the expression levels of lncRNA TUG1, miRNA-377, PPAR-γ, and IL-17 among vitiligo subjects and to investigate their possible role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.
Methods:
This study was conducted on 30 healthy controls and 30 vitiligo patients. LncRNA TUG1 and miRNA-377 were detected in serum by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Also, expressions of PPAR-γ and IL-17 were assessed in tissue by real-time PCR.
Results:
LncRNA TUG1 and PPAR-γ levels were significantly downregulated in the vitiligo group compared with the control group. On the other hand, miRNA-377 and IL-17 were significantly upregulated in the vitiligo group compared with the control group.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrated the dysregulated expressions of lncRNA TUG1 and miRNA-377 in patients with vitiligo suggesting that both contributed to the pathogenesis of vitiligo that might be through PPAR-γ downregulation and IL-17 upregulation.
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