A network-based approach reveals long non-coding RNAs associated with disease activity in lupus nephritis: key pathways for flare and potential biomarkers to be used as liquid biopsies.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

A blood-based biomarker is needed to assess lupus nephritis (LN) disease activity, minimizing the need for invasive kidney biopsies. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to regulate gene expression, appear to be stable in human plasma, and can serve as non-invasive biomarkers.

Methods

Transcriptomic data of whole blood samples from 74 LN patients and 20 healthy subjects (HC) were analyzed to identify differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs associated with quiescent disease and flares. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to uncover lncRNAs with a central role (hub lncRNAs) in regulating key biological processes that drive LN disease activity. The association of hub lncRNAs with disease activity was validated using RT-qPCR on an indep

SUBMITTER: Sentis G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10355154 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature