Expression analysis of Treg-related lncRNAs in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune condition affecting the central nervous system, in which various kinds of immune cells, including T and B cells, and numerous cytokines and chemokines are implicated. LncRNAs modulating the function or differentiation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) may be involved in the pathoetiology of NMO. To assess the involvement of these lncRNAs in this disease, we studied the expression levels of TH2-LCR, MAFTRR, NEST, RMRP, and FLICR in NMO patients and healthy subjects. All of the lncRNAs listed were up-regulated in NMO patients compared with healthy controls. Although the interaction of group and gender factors significantly affected the expression of NEST, RMRP, and TH2-LCR genes, we detected no effect of gender factor on the expression of the examined genes. The highest expression correlation was found between RMRP and TH2-LCR among cases with correlation coefficient 0.73. ROC curve analysis indicated that TH2-LCR, MAFTRR, RMRP, and FLICR had significant prospective diagnostic power (AUC ± SD = 0.99 ± 0.002, 0.97 ± 0.01, 0.91 ± 0.01 and 0.84 ± 0.04, respectively). Best of these genes was TH2-LCR with AUC ± SD = 0.99 ± 0.002, sensitivity= 0.97, specificity= 1, P-value= <0.0001. RMRP and TH2-LCR had a positive correlation with age and age at onset and a negative correlation with EDSS. Cumulatively, TH2-LCR, MAFTRR, RMRP, and FLICR lncRNAs, particularly TH2-LCR, could be considered as potential contributors to the pathogenesis of NMO disease.