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Long non‐coding RNA AFAP1‐AS1 is upregulated in a subset of multiple sclerosis patients
Author(s) -
Mazdeh Mehrdokht,
Eftekharian Mohammad M.,
Komaki Alireza,
ArsangJang Shahram,
GhafouriFard Soudeh,
Taheri Mohammad
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
clinical and experimental neuroimmunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.297
H-Index - 15
ISSN - 1759-1961
DOI - 10.1111/cen3.12513
Subject(s) - multiple sclerosis , pathogenesis , downregulation and upregulation , medicine , gene , immunology , oncology , biology , genetics
Objective Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system. Although the exact mechanism of this autoimmune disorder has not yet been identified, several protein coding genes and non‐coding transcripts have been shown to be dysregulated in MS patients. Methods In the current study, we assessed expression of actin filament associated protein 1 ( AFAP1 ) and its naturally occurring antisense (actin filament associated protein 1‐antisense 1: AFAP1‐AS1 ) in the peripheral blood of MS patients and healthy individuals. Results AFAP1‐AS1 was upregulated in male MS patients compared with healthy male controls ( P = 0.048). AFAP1 expression was not different between MS patients and controls or between any subgroups of patients and controls. The interaction between disease status and sex was significant in AFAP1‐AS1 expression. There was a significant inverse correlation between expression levels of AFAP1 and AFAP1‐AS1 in healthy individuals ( r = −0.472, P = 0.001), but not MS patients ( r = −0.251, P = 0.078). Conclusions The current study implies the role of AFAP1‐AS1 dysregulation in the pathogenesis of a certain group of MS patients. Future studies are required to elaborate the underlying mechanism of such dysregulation.