Long non‐coding RNA CRNDE and toll‐like receptor 3 correlate with disease severity, inflammation, and mortality in sepsis

Objective This study aimed to assess the interaction between long non‐coding RNA colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (lncRNA CRNDE) and toll‐like receptor 3 (TLR3), and assess their correlations with disease severity, inflammation, and 28‐days mortality in sepsis patients. Methods We consecutively enrolled 146 sepsis patients and 146 healthy controls (HCs), and collected their peripheral blood mononuclear cells to detect lncRNA CRNDE and TLR3 expressions using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. LncRNA CRNDE and TLR3 in sepsis patients were classified into four clusters according to quantile expressions (Quantile 1 (0%‐24%), Quantile 2 (25%‐50%), Quantile 3 (50%‐74%), and Quantile 4 (75%‐100%)) for correlation analysis. Results LncRNA CRNDE was upregulated in sepsis patients compared with HCs, and it showed good value in differentiating sepsis patients form HCs by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. In sepsis patients, lncRNA CRNDE positively correlated with acute pathologic and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, as well as serum creatinine (Scr). As for inflammation, lncRNA CRNDE positively correlated with C‐reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐8. Regarding mortality, lncRNA CRNDE positively correlated with 28‐days mortality. Furthermore, lncRNA CRNDE positively correlated with TLR3, and TLR3 positively associated with APACHE II score, SOFA score, Scr, albumin, CRP, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, and 28‐days mortality in sepsis patients. Conclusion LncRNA CRNDE interacts with TLR3, both of which correlate with advanced disease severity, inflammation, and higher 28‐days mortality in sepsis patients.