Abstract
BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the predictive value of long noncoding RNAs antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus (lncRNAs ANRIL) for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and evaluate its correlation with inflammatory cytokines as well as the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage in COPD patients. METHODS: A total of 136 acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) patients, 138 stable COPD patients, and 140 healthy controls (HCs) were consecutively recruited, and plasma samples were collected. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect lncRNA ANRIL expression. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect inflammatory cytokines expressions. RESULTS: LncRNA ANRIL expression was lower in AECOPD patients compared with stable COPD patients and HCs (Both P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curves revealed lncRNA ANRIL could distinguish AECOPD patients from HCs (area under curve (AUC):0.700, 95% CI: 0.638-0.762) and stable COPD patients (AUC: 0.659, 95% CI: 0.594-0.724). For inflammatory cytokines, lncRNA ANRIL expression was negatively correlated with TNF-α (P < 0.001), IL-1β (P = 0.015), IL-8 (P = 0.008), IL-17A (P = 0.002), and LTB-4 (P = 0.004) in AECOPD patients, while it was negatively correlated with TNF-α (P = 0.049), IL-1β (P = 0.005), IL-17A (P = 0.030), and LTB-4 (P = 0.011) in stable COPD patients. Furthermore, lncRNA ANRIL expression negatively correlated with GOLD stage in AECOPD patients (P = 0.001), but not in stable COPD patients (P = 0.131). CONCLUSION: LncRNA ANRIL associates with lower acute exacerbation risk, decreased inflammatory cytokines, and mild GOLD stage in COPD patients.