Background
Long non-coding RNA zinc finger antisense 1 (lnc-ZFAS1) has been reported to inhibit neuronal damage in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the role of lnc-ZFAS1 in AIS patients remains unclear. Therefore, we assessed the relationship of lnc-ZFAS1 with neurological impairment, inflammation, and prognosis in AIS patients.
Conclusion
Lower lnc-ZFAS1 expression is connected with increased neurological impairment and inflammation as well as worse RFS in AIS patients.
Methods
Totally, 241 AIS patients and 120 controls were enrolled. lnc-ZFAS1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was evaluated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Besides, a 3-year follow-up was conducted to assess recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in AIS patients.
Results
lnc-ZFAS1 was reduced in AIS patients compared to that in controls (Z = -10.693, p < 0.001). In AIS patients, lnc-ZFAS1 was negatively correlated with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (rs = -0.335, p < 0.001), C-reactive protein (rs = -0.284, p < 0.001), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rs = -0.293, p < 0.001), interleukin-1β (rs = -0.149, p = 0.021), and interleukin-6 (rs = -0.161, p = 0.012), but not underlying diseases (all p > 0.05). Besides, lnc-ZFAS1 was divided into high and low levels based on the median expression in AIS patients. Indeed, high lnc-ZFAS1 predicted better RFS (χ2 = 6.222, p = 0.013); the 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year RFS rates were 94.2%, 88.3%, and 85.5%, respectively, in patients with high lnc-ZFAS1, then 87.5%, 79.2%, and 71.6%, respectively, in those with low lnc-ZFAS1. However, lnc-ZFAS1 was not correlated with OS (χ2 = 1.404, p = 0.236); the 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year OS rates were 98.3%, 95.8%, and 94.0%, respectively, in patients with high lnc-ZFAS1, then 96.7%, 93.9%, and 89.6%, respectively, in those with low lnc-ZFAS1.