Long non-coding RNAs ENST00000429730.1 and MSTRG.93125.4 associate with metabolic activity in tuberculosis lesions of sputum-negative tuberculosis patients

Purpose: Accurate diagnosis of complete inactivation of tuberculosis lesions is still a challenge with respect to sputum-negative tuberculosis. RNA-sequencing was conducted to uncover potential lncRNA indicators of metabolic activity in tuberculosis lesions. Methods: Lung tissues with high metabolic activity (PET-high) and low metabolic activity (PET-low) demonstrated by fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) were collected from five sputum-negative tuberculosis patients for RNA-sequencing. Differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs were identified, and their correlations were evaluated to constructed lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network. Afterwards, cis- or trans-targets of differentially expressed lncRNAs were predicted, followed by establishing lncRNA-target-pathway network, in which lncRNAs and mRNAs with high degrees were measured by quantitative real-time PCR using samples collected from 11 patients. Prediction efficiencies of lncRNA indicators were assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, Bioinformatics analysis was performed for potential lncRNAs. Results: In total, 386 mRNAs and 44 lncRNAs were identified to be differentially expressed. Differentially expressed mRNAs in lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network were significantly associated with the fibrillar collagen, platelet-derived growth factor binding, and leukocyte migration involved in inflammatory response. One cis-target gene and 440 trans-target genes were predicted for differentially expressed lncRNAs. Seven genes (C1QB, CD68, CCL5, CCL19, MMP7, HLA-DMB, and CYBB) and two lncRNAs (ENST00000429730.1 and MSTRG.93125.4) were validated to be significantly up-regulated. The area under the curve of ENST00000429730.1 and MSTRG.93125.4 was 0.750 and 0.813, respectively. Conclusion: Two lncRNAs ENST00000429730.1 and MSTRG.93125.4 might be considered as potential indicators of metabolic activity in tuberculosis lesions for sputum-negative tuberculosis. Examination of different Inc-mRNA expressions in 5 lung tissues.