# 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.

## Key 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.