NR_103776.1 as a novel diagnostic biomarker for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: With the development of sequencing technologies, there is increasing evidence that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The level of NR_103776.1 expression in SLE and its clinical associations are still not well defined.

Objective: To identify differentially expressed lncRNAs and explore their functional roles in SLE.

Methods: Transcriptome sequencing was used to screen differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs. Expression validation of clinical samples was performed by QRT-PCR. Bioinformatics was used to analyze its prognostic value and potential function.

Results: Of the 231 significantly differentially expressed lncRNAs, NR_103776.1 could be used to distinguish not only SLE patients and rheumatoid arthritis patients but also active SLE patients, stable SLE patients, and healthy controls. NR_103776.1 was significantly and negatively correlated with inflammatory indexes (CRP and ESR). NR_103776.1 dysregulation might contribute to the metabolism of RNA and proteins in SLE patients.

Conclusions: This study not only provided a transcriptome profile of lncRNAs aberrantly expressed in individual nucleated cells of SLE patients but also suggested NR_103776.1 as a novel potential diagnostic biomarker.