Long noncoding RNAs (CTC-471J1.2, NeST) as epigenetic risk factors of active juvenile lupus nephritis: a case-control study

TL;DR

This study identifies two long noncoding RNAs as potential biomarkers for active juvenile lupus nephritis, offering new insights into disease activity prediction.

Contribution

The study reports novel epigenetic risk factors (CTC-471J1.2 and NeST) for active juvenile lupus nephritis.

Findings

CTC-471J1.2 is significantly down-regulated in children with active lupus nephritis.

NeST is significantly up-regulated in active lupus nephritis cases.

Both lncRNAs show sensitivity and specificity in differentiating active lupus nephritis.

Abstract

Measurement of the circulating levels of long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in lupus nephritis (LN) patients could dramatically explore more insights about the disease pathogenesis. Hence, we aimed to quantify the level of expression of CTC-471J1.2 and NeST in LN patients and to correlate it with the disease activity.

This case-control study was conducted on a group of children with juvenile LN attending to Mansoura University Children’s Hospital (MUCH). Demographics, clinical, and laboratory findings were collected besides the measurement of lncRNAs by quantitative real-time PCR.

The expression level of lncRNAs-CTC-471J1.2 was significantly down-regulated in children with active LN versus inactive cases or controls. In contrast, the NeST was significantly up-regulated in active LN cases. A significant correlation was found between CTC-471J1.2 expression and LN activity parameters. Additionally, both lncRNAs showed a reasonable sensitivity and specificity in differentiation of active LN. A regression analysis model revealed that CTC-471J1.2 and NeST were independent predictors of active nephritis.

The expression level of circulatory lncRNAs-CTC-471J1.2 and NeST can be used as sensitive and specific biomarkers for active LN. Furthermore, both could serve as predictors for nephritis activity.

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