Expression profile of long noncoding RNAs in post-stroke aphasia

Post-stroke aphasia (PSA) is one of the most common complications after stroke, seriously affecting survivors' quality of life. While long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are linked to stroke, their role in PSA remains unclear. This study explored PSA-associated lncRNA expression to identify potential biomarkers.

LncRNA expression profiles were analyzed via high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) with subsequent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) validation. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment, and correlations with language behaviors were assessed.

Initial analyses comparing PSA and stroke patients revealed 797 significantly differentially expressed lncRNAs (69 upregulated, 728 downregulated), linked to several metabolic pathways. qPCR confirmed upregulation of lncRNA RP11-227G15.3 in PSA. A negative correlation with oral spelling scores was observed in 12 PSA patients (p = 0.04), but this did not survive Bonferroni correction, with no significance for other language measures.

This is an exploratory pilot study. LncRNA RP11-227G15.3 represents a candidate biomarker requiring validation for PSA, though its preliminary association with oral spelling scores requires validation in larger, independent cohorts before any clinical application.