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Construction of a lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA Network to Determine the Key Regulators of the Th1/Th2 Imbalance in Multiple Sclerosis

2021; Future Medicine; Volume: 13; Issue: 22 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2217/epi-2021-0296

1750-1911

Hanieh Azari, Elham Karimi, Mohammad Shekari, Ahmad Tahmasebi, Amin Reza Nikpoor, Ahmad Agha Negahi, Nima Sanadgol, Pegah Mousavi,

MicroRNA in disease regulation

Aim: The exact epigenetic mechanisms that determine the balance of T helper (Th)1 and Th2 cells and autoimmune responses in multiple sclerosis (MS) remain unclear. We aim to clarify these. Methods: A combination of bioinformatics analysis and molecular evaluations was utilized to identify master hub genes. Results: A competitive endogenous RNA network containing six long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), 21 miRNAs and 86 mRNAs was provided through enrichment analysis and a protein–protein interaction network. NEAT1 and MALAT1 were found as differentially expressed lncRNAs using Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE21942). Quantitative real-time PCR results demonstrate dysregulation in the RUNX3 (a regulator of Th1/Th2 balance), GATA3 and TBX21, as well as miR-544a and miR-210-3p (which directly target RUNX3). ELISA also confirmed an imbalance in IFN-γ (Th1)/IL-4 (Th2) in MS patients. Conclusion: Our findings introduce novel biomarkers leading to Th1/Th2 imbalance in MS.