An intersectional analysis of LncRNAs and mRNAs reveals the potential therapeutic targets of Bi Zhong Xiao Decoction in collagen-induced arthritis rats

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. Both clinical and experimental studies have revealed the effects of the traditional Chinese formula Bi Zhong Xiao Decoction (BZXD) in treating RA. However, the multifaceted mechanisms of BZXD in RA treatment are not comprehensively understood. In this study, we aimed to explore therapeutic targets of BZXD by using lncRNA and mRNA transcriptomics. Microarray expression profiling of mRNA and lncRNA was performed using RNA extracted from synovial tissue samples from four normal rats, four CIA rats, and Bi Zhong Xiao Decoction treated CIA rats.