Comparison of long non-coding RNA NEAT1 expression, P53, and anti-oxidant factors between Alzheimer's patients and...

Several studies have reported that the lncRNA Nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) is associated with the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Oxidative stress and apoptosis also play crucial roles in the development of AD. The present study compared the serum levels of NEAT1, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and P53 between individuals with AD and healthy controls.

Peripheral blood samples were collected from 30 AD patients and 33 healthy controls and then centrifuged to separate serum. Total RNAs were isolated, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was applied to determine NEAT1 gene expression. Also, Enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA) were conducted to measure SOD and GSH as anti-oxidant factors, and p53 as an apoptosis marker.

NEAT1 expression was significantly higher in AD patients than in controls (P<0.001). In addition, ROC analysis revealed that serum NEAT1 levels distinguished AD patients from healthy controls with 90% sensitivity and 84.85% specificity. Moreover, the anti-oxidant levels of SOD (P<0.0001) and GSH (P<0.05) were significantly decreased in AD patients, while P53 levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). However, no significant association was found between NEAT1 expression and the measured blood factors.

The serum levels of NEAT1 effectively distinguished between AD patients and non-AD people, underscoring its potential as a blood-based biomarker for the development of Alzheimer's disease.