Long non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific 5 and its targets, microRNA-21 and microRNA-140, are potential biomarkers of allergic rhinitis

Advances in noncoding RNA in children allergic rhinitis

BACKGROUND

A chronic condition that significantly reduces a child's quality of life is allergic rhinitis (AR). The environment and allergens that the body is regularly exposed to can cause inflammatory and immunological reactions, which can change the expression of certain genes Epigenetic changes are closely linked to the onset and severity of allergy disorders according to mounting amounts of data. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a group of RNA molecules that cannot be converted into polypeptides. The three main categories of ncRNAs include microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). NcRNAs play a crucial role in controlling gene expression and contribute to the development of numerous human diseases.

METHODS

Articles are selected based on Pubmed's literature review and the author's personal knowledge. The largest and highest quality studies were included. The search selection is not standardized.

RESULTS

Recent findings indicate that various categories of ncRNAs play distinct yet interconnected roles and actively contribute to intricate gene regulatory networks.

CONCLUSION

This article demonstrates the significance and progress of ncRNAs in children's AR. The database covers three key areas: miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs. Additionally, potential avenues for future research to facilitate the practical application of ncRNAs as therapeutic targets and biomarkers will be explore.

miR-224-5p Attenuates Allergic Responses in Mice with Allergic Rhinitis by Modulating the Th1/Th2 Response

Background

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common chronic respiratory disease that has become a global health problem. miRNAs play an important role in multiple immune and inflammatory diseases, including AR. In this work, the mechanism by which miR-224-5p regulates AR in vivo and in vitro was examined.

Methods

Human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs) were used to establish an AR cell model induced by Der P1, and C57BL/6 mice were used to establish an AR animal model induced by OVA (ovalbumin). RT-qPCR was used to determine the level of miR-224-5p; western blot analysis was used to determine GATA3; ELISA was used to determine the levels of OVA-specific IgE, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13; flow cytometry was used to determine the differentiation of Th1 and Th2 cells; and HE and PAS staining was used to observe the histopathological alterations in the mouse nasal mucosa and spleen.

Results

miR-224-5p was downregulated in nasal mucosa from mice with AR and an AR cell model. Overexpressed miR-224-5p can improve AR development and attenuate AR symptoms by regulating GATA3-mediated Th1/Th2 responses.

Conclusion

miR-224-5p attenuates allergic reactions in mice with AR by regulating the Th1/Th2 response.

Exploring the latest understanding on the role of immune mediators, genetic and environmental factors in pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis: a systematic review

Introduction

Despite well-defined clinical phenotypes of chronic rhinitis, the underlying in-depth pathophysiological mechanism, particularly with reference to the involvement of immune mediators, genetic, and environmental factors, are still not fully understood. Therefore, our aim was to give updated information on the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR), with an emphasis on the role of cytokines in adults aged 18 years and above. Additionally, we investigated the impact of genetic and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of AR.

Results

A search in various databases identified 1,178 records, and 18 studies were ultimately selected from January 2018 to April 2023. The total sample size in our studies was 4,317, with 2,186 in the experimental and 2,131 in control groups, respectively. The mean age was 33.4 years, with 43% were male, while 57% were female. According to the selected studies, various factors, including immune mediators, particularly cytokines, genetic, and environmental factors, were identified in the development of AR.

Conclusion

The selected studies presented findings on different factors and sub-factors in the pathogenesis of AR, making it a challenge for us to compare their results. However, based on our findings, researchers can link our identified factors to potential therapies for AR.

The Common LncRNAs of Neuroinflammation-Related Diseases

Spatio-temporal specific long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important regulatory roles not only in the growth and development of the brain but also in the occurrence and development of neurologic diseases. Generally, the occurrence of neurologic diseases is accompanied by neuroinflammation. Elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs on neuroinflammation is helpful for the clinical treatment of neurologic diseases. This paper focuses on recent findings on the regulatory effect of lncRNAs on neuroinflammatory diseases and selects 10 lncRNAs that have been intensively studied to analyze their mechanism action. The clinical treatment status of lncRNAs as drug targets is also reviewed. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Gene therapies such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindrome repeats technology, antisense RNA technology, and RNAi technology are gradually applied in clinical treatment, and the development of technology is based on a large number of basic research investigations. This paper focuses on the mechanisms of lncRNAs regulation of neuroinflammation, elucidates the beneficial or harmful effects of lncRNAs in neurosystemic diseases, and provides theoretical bases for lncRNAs as drug targets.

Noncoding RNAs and Virus and Treatment in Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a type I hypersensitivity reaction disease caused by inhaled allergens and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated. Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) is an important regulator involved in gene expression and can be detected in the cytoplasm or extracellular fluid, which mainly includes microRNAs (miRNA, length 22-24 nucleotides), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA, length >200 nucleotides), and circRNAs. LncRNA and miRNA both participate in the regulation of immune function. Some respiratory viral infections can aggravate allergic rhinitis, such as a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). However, the interaction between viral infection and allergy is complex and the mechanism is still unclear. In this review, we summarized the interactions of noncoding RNAs and viruses in the occurrence and development of AR, along with the treatments focusing on the noncoding RNAs in the past five years.

The Role of Noncoding RNA in Airway Allergic Diseases through Regulation of T Cell Subsets

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are common airway allergic diseases, the incidence of which has increased annually in recent years. The human body is frequently exposed to allergens and environmental irritants that trigger immune and inflammatory responses, resulting in altered gene expression. Mounting evidence suggested that epigenetic alterations were strongly associated with the progression and severity of allergic diseases. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of transcribed RNA molecules that cannot be translated into polypeptides and consist of three major categories, microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Previous studies showed that ncRNAs were involved in the physiopathological mechanisms of airway allergic diseases and contributed to their occurrence and development. This article reviews the current state of understanding of the role of noncoding RNAs in airway allergic diseases, highlights the limitations of recent studies, and outlines the prospects for further research to facilitate the clinical translation of noncoding RNAs as therapeutic targets and biomarkers.

Cell division cycle 42 reflects disease risk, symptoms, Th1/Th2 disproportion, and its short-term variation indicates symptom amelioration after treatment in allergic rhinitis patients

BACKGROUND

Cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) modulates the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR) through regulating immunity, allergic response, and T-helper (Th)1/Th2 imbalance. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of CDC42 to reflect disease risk, symptom scores, and Th1/Th2 axis of AR and the correlation of its vertical change with symptom amelioration after treatment.

METHODS

CDC42, Th1 cells, and Th2 cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and interferon-γ and interleukin-4 in the serum were determined in 200 AR patients. Simultaneously, PBMC CDC42 was detected in 50 non-atopic obstructive snoring patients [as disease controls (DCs)] and 50 healthy controls (HCs).

RESULTS

CDC42 was increased in AR patients compared with DCs and HCs (both p < 0.001) but showed no difference between DCs and HCs (p = 0.054). In AR patients, CDC42 was positively linked to rhinorrhea, itching, sneezing, and total nasal symptom scores (TNSS) (all p < 0.05), but not congestion score (p = 0.052). Meanwhile, CDC42 showed positive correlations with Th2 cells (p < 0.001) and interleukin-4 (p = 0.005), a negative correlation with Th1/Th2 axis (p = 0.001), but no correlation with Th1 cells (p = 0.095) or interferon-γ (p = 0.174). Notably, CDC42 at week 4 after treatment (W4) was reduced compared with that at enrollment (W0) (p < 0.001) and positively correlated with TNSS at W4 (p < 0.001); from W0 to W4, CDC42 change also positively correlated with TNSS change (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

CDC42 is elevated and positively correlates with symptom scores and Th2 cells, whose short-term reduction reflects symptom alleviation in AR patients.

Long Noncoding RNAs as Orchestrators of CD4+ T-Cell Fate

CD4⁺ T cells differentiate towards different subpopulations through the regulation of lineage-specific cytokines and transcription factors, which flexibly respond to various immune challenges. However, considerable work has demonstrated that the CD4⁺ T-cell differentiation mechanism is complex and not limited to transcription factors and cytokines. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules with lengths exceeding 200 base pairs that regulate various biological processes and genes. LncRNAs have been found to conciliate the plasticity of CD4⁺ T-cell differentiation. Then, we focused on lncRNAs involved in CD4⁺ T-cell differentiation and enlisted some molecular thought into the plasticity and functional heterogeneity of CD4⁺ T cells. Furthermore, elucidating how lncRNAs modulate CD4⁺ T-cell differentiation in disparate immune diseases may provide a basis for the pathological mechanism of immune-mediated diseases.

LncRNA GAS5 positively regulates IL-10 expression in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis

INTRODUCTION

LncRNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) has been proven to be involved in autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of autoimmune disease that may affect myasthenia gravis (MG) patients. However, its direct role in MG is unknown.

METHODS

Our study included 62 generalized MG patients. GAS5 expression was analyzed with real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). The interaction between GAS5 and interleukin 10 (IL-10) was explored in overexpressed cells using real time quantitative polymerase chain reactions (RT-qPCRs) and western blot. The correlation of GAS5 and IL-10 was analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis. The diagnostic value of GAS5 for MG was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

GAS5 and IL-10 mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were significantly lower in MG patients than healthy controls. Downregulated GAS5 effectively distinguished MG patients from healthy controls. GAS5 expression was positively correlated with IL-10 expression in both MG patients and healthy controls. GAS5 overexpression significantly upregulated IL-10 expression in PBMCs derived from both MG patients and healthy controls.

CONCLUSION

LncRNA GAS5 may improve generalized MG by positively regulating IL-10 expression.

Long non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific 5 and its targets, microRNA-21 and microRNA-140, are potential biomarkers of allergic rhinitis

Objective

Long non‐coding RNA growth arrest‐specific 5 (lnc‐GAS5) and its targets (microRNA [miR]‐21 and miR‐140) are involved in the development and progression of allergic rhinitis (AR). However, the correlation of lnc‐GAS5 with miR‐21 and miR‐140 and their associations with disease risk, symptom severity, and Th1/Th2 cytokines in AR remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate this topic.

Methods

In total, 120 patients with AR and 60 controls were recruited. Nasal‐mucosa tissues were collected from all participants. Lnc‐GAS5, its targets (miR‐21 and miR‐140), interferon (IFN)‐γ, interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐4, and IL‐10 were detected by reverse‐transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Lnc‐GAS5 was elevated, while miR‐21 and miR‐140 was downregulated in AR patients than in controls (p < 0.001). In AR patients, lnc‐GAS5 was negatively correlated with miR‐21 (p < 0.001), miR‐140 (p < 0.001), IFN‐γ (p = 0.019), and IL‐2 (p = 0.039) and positively correlated with IL‐4 (p = 0.004) and IL‐10 (p < 0.001), individual nasal symptom scores (INSSs) for itching, sneezing, and congestion (p < 0.05), and total nasal symptom score (TNSS) (p < 0.001). Moreover, miR‐21 and miR‐140 were negatively correlated with some INSSs, total TNSS score, and IL‐10 and positively correlated with IFN‐γ and IL‐2 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Lnc‐GAS5 is negatively correlated with that of its targets (miR‐21 and miR‐140) in AR; meanwhile, lnc‐GAS5, miR‐21, and miR‐140 are correlated with disease risk, symptom severity, and Th1/Th2 imbalance in AR, suggesting the potential of these biomarkers in the development and progression of AR.