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.