Aberrant expressions of circulating lncRNA NEAT1 and microRNA-125a are linked with Th2 cells and symptom severity in pediatric allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Objective: Long noncoding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (lnc-NEAT1) and its target microRNA-125a (miR-125a) are reported to regulate immune and inflammation process in allergic rhinitis (AR). Hence, this study intended to investigate the correlation between lnc-NEAT1 and miR-125a expressions, as well as their clinical values in pediatric AR patients.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from 80 pediatric AR patients, 40 disease controls (DCs), and 40 healthy controls (HCs) were collected to detect lnc-NEAT1 and miR-125a expressions by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. For pediatric AR patients only, serum interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-10 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; meanwhile, T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cells in CD4⁺ T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.

Results: Lnc-NEAT1 was overexpressed, while miR-125a downregulated in pediatric AR patients compared to DCs and HCs (all p < 0.001). Moreover, lnc-NEAT1 expression negatively correlated with miR-125a expression in pediatric AR patients (p = 0.002), but not in DCs (p = 0.226) or HCs (p = 0.237). Furthermore, in pediatric AR patients, lnc-NEAT1 expression positively associated with TNSS (p < 0.001), sneezing score (p = 0.006), and congestion score (p = 0.008); miR-125a expression was negatively related to TNSS (p < 0.001), itching score (p = 0.040), and sneezing score (p = 0.005). Additionally, lnc-NEAT1 expression positively, while miR-125a expression negatively correlated with Th2 cells and IL-10 (all p < 0.05), but they were not correlated with Th1 cells or IFN-γ in pediatric AR patients.

Conclusion: Circulating lnc-NEAT1 and miR-125a are aberrantly expressed and linked with Th2 cells and symptom severity in pediatric allergic rhinitis.

Keywords: Th1/Th2 imbalance; allergic rhinitis; disease risk and severity; long noncoding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1; microRNA-125a.