Abstract
BACKGROUND Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts thought to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Some lncRNAs are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) and participate in pathological processes of PD. The incidence of PD is relatively high in members of the Uyghur minority living in Xingjiang province of China. This study measured the expression of lncRNAs in the peripheral blood cells of Chinese Uyghur individuals with and without PD and analyzed the possible function of these lncRNAs in the development of PD. MATERIAL AND METHODS Peripheral blood samples were collected from 55 Uyghur patients with PD and 55 healthy volunteers. Total RNA was extracted, and the levels of expression of whole-genome lncRNAs and mRNAs in 10 samples (5 PD and 5 controls) were determined by microarray method. The expression levels of lncRNAs in all 100 subjects were determined by qRT-PCR. The lncRNA expression profiles of PD patients were determined based on lncRNA microarray chip analysis, and differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified. The results of chip analysis were confirmed in a large clinical cohort. RESULTS Comparison of subjects with and without PD identified 32 significantly up-regulated and 18 significantly down-regulated lncRNAs in the PD group. GO analysis showed that mRNAs encoding proteins involved in the regulation of biological processes were differentially expressed, with the inflammatory immune response being the most significantly related pathway. CONCLUSIONS The expression of lncRNAs in peripheral blood differed significantly in PD patients and controls. These differentially expressed lncRNAs may play a role in the development of PD.