Predictive value of lncRNA ZFAS1 in patients with lumbar disc degeneration

Increasing evidences have indicated the association of non-coding RNAs with the progression of lumbar disc degeneration (LDD), but the role of lncRNA ZFAS1 in LDD remains undefined. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the predictive value of lncRNA ZFAS1 in patients with LDD.

A total of 80 patients with LDD confirmed and treated in the Gansu Provincial Hospital from May 2018 to May 2020 were enrolled into the patient group, and 50 healthy controls who concurrently underwent physical examination in our hospital were enrolled into the control group. The expression and diagnostic value of serum lncRNA ZFAS1 in the two groups were determined. The expression of lncRNA ZFAS1 was compared between the two groups before and one month after therapy, and the associations of lncRNA ZFAS1 with inflammatory factors were analyzed. In addition, logistic regression was carried out to analyze risk factors for the prognosis of patients, and corresponding curves about prediction were drawn.

The patient group showed a notably higher lncRNA ZFAS1 level than the control group (P<0.001), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of lncRNA ZFAS1 in diagnosing LDD was 0.807. In addition, after therapy, the patient group showed a remarkable decrease in serum lncRNA ZFAS1 (P<0.01). Serum lncRNA ZFAS1 was positively correlated with serum TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in patients (all P<0.05). Moreover, serum lncRNA ZFAS1 in the good efficacy group was notably lower than that in the general efficacy group (P<0.01). Age and lncRNA ZFAS1 expression before therapy were independent risk factors for patients' prognosis (both P<0.05).

LncRNA ZFAS1 is highly expressed in patients with LDD and is a potential prognostic indicator for LDD.