Peripheral whole blood mRNAs and lncRNAs expression analysis in eosinophilic asthmatics

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays roles in many diseases including asthma. Several lncRNAs function in the early differentiation of T-helper cells. lncRNA controls gene transcription, protein expression and epigenetic regulation; As one of the four asthma phenotypes, eosinophilic asthma(EA) occupies the largest proportion in asthma patients; However, lncRNA associated with eosinophilic asthma have not to be identified so far. We designed the study to identify the circulating lncRNA signature in EA samples. We tested whether any significant changes in lncRNA expression was observed in EA and healthy people (Control) sample' blood samples. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed through lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network. lncRNA expression was measured by means of microarray, quantitative real-time PCR. A total of 41 dysregulated lncRNAs and 271 dysregulated mRNAs (difference =2-fold) were found in EA compared to Control samples. GO terms and KEGG pathway annotation data revealed that several lncRNA were significantly associated with EA. By qRT-PCR, lncRNA is confirmed significantly expression between EA and control samples. The results presented here show several lncRNA may take part in the immune process of EA. Whether these lncRNA can be used as biomarkers need to be further study in future trials Overall design: The eosinophilic asthmatics (EA n=9) are included according the accepted standard (induced sputum eosinophil counts >3% and neutrophil<63%)1. Exclusion criteria included recent (past month) respiratory tract infection, recent asthma exacerbation, recent unstable asthma or change in maintenance therapy and current smoking (or past smoking within 6 months of cessation).All of the patients were selected from People's Liberation Army General Hospital. EA samples were subdivided into high expression IgE group (EAH n=6) and low expression IgE group (EAL n=3). Healthy people were selected as Control samples (n=3). The clinical data are provided for individual samples in Table 1. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital. Informed consent was obtained from each donor. The results presented here show several lncRNA may take part in the immune process of EA. Whether these lncRNA can be used as biomarkers need to be further study in future trials.