The clinical value of lncRNA MALAT1 and its targets miR-125b, miR-133, miR-146a, and miR-203 for predicting disease progression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to explore the correlations of long non-coding RNA MALAT1 (lncRNA MALAT1) and its targets microRNA (miR)-125b, miR-133, miR-146a, and miR-203 with acute exacerbation risk, inflammation, and disease severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Plasma samples were obtained from 120 acute exacerbation COPD (AECOPD) patients, 120 stable COPD patients, and 120 healthy controls (HCs). RT-qPCR was conducted to detect lncRNA MALAT1 expression and its target miRNAs, and ELISA was performed to detect the inflammatory cytokines. RESULTS: LncRNA MALAT1 was highest in AECOPD patients followed by stable COPD patients and then HCs, which distinguished AECOPD patients from HCs (AUC: 0.969, 95% CI: 0.951-0.987) and stable COPD patients (AUC: 0.846, 95% CI: 0.798-0.894). Furthermore, lncRNA MALAT1 positively correlated with GOLD stage in both AECOPD and stable COPD patients. Regarding inflammatory cytokines, lncRNA MALAT1 positively correlated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, and IL-23 in both AECOPD and stable COPD patients. Besides, lncRNA MALAT1 negatively correlated with miR-125b, miR-146a, and miR-203 in AECOPD patients and reversely correlated with miR-125b and miR-146a in stable COPD patients. Notably, miR-125b, miR-133, miR-146a, and miR-203 were the lowest in AECOPD patients, followed by stable COPD patients, and then HCs; miR-125b, miR-133, miR-146a, and miR-203 negatively correlated with inflammation and GOLD stage in AECOPD and stable COPD patients. CONCLUSION: LncRNA MALAT1 exhibits clinical implications in acute exacerbation risk prediction and management of COPD via the inner-correlation with its targets miR-125b, miR-146a, and miR-203.