Analysis of expression of regulatory T cell related lncRNAs in inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies

Long non-coding RNAs that regulate function of regulatory T cells can affect pathoetiology of autoimmune disorders, such as inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies. In the current case-control study, we compared expression of four of these lncRNAs, namely FLICR, NEST, RMRP and TH2-LCR between patients with inflam-matory demyelinating polyneuropathies and healthy subjects. Expressions of RMRP, NEST and FLICR were higher in total patients compared with controls. However, there was no significant difference in their expressions between acute and chronic demyelinating polyneuropathies. In addition, interaction of gender and disease factors had significant effect on expression levels of RMRP and TH2-LCR genes in subgroups. RMRR was superior to other lncRNAs in terms of AUC, sensitivity and specificity values in total patients and both subgroups of patients. This lncRNA could separate total patients, female patients and male patients from corresponding controls with AUC values (+/- SD) of 0.9 +/- 0.03, 0.86 +/- 0.07 and 0.93 +/- 0.03, respectively. FLICR ranked second in this regard, since it could separate total patients, female patients and male patients from corresponding controls with AUC values (+/- SD) of 0.81 +/- 0.03, 0.72 +/- 0.07 and 0.87 +/- 0.04, respectively. Therefore, our study provides evidence for participation of regulatory T cells-related lncRNAs in the pathoetiology of inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies.