Identification of Potential Key Long Non-Coding RNAs and Target Genes Associated with Pneumonia Using Long Non-Coding RNA Sequencing (lncRNA-Seq): A Preliminary Study.
Sai Huang, Cong Feng, Li Chen, Zhi Huang, Xuan Zhou, Bei Li, Li-Li Wang, Wei Chen, Fa-Qin Lv, Tan-Shi Li
Author Information
Sai Huang: Department of Hematology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland).
Cong Feng: Department of Emergency, General Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
Li Chen: Department of Emergency, General Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
Zhi Huang: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Xuan Zhou: Department of Emergency, General Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
Bei Li: Department of Emergency, General Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
Li-Li Wang: Department of Emergency, General Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
Wei Chen: Department of Emergency, General Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
Fa-Qin Lv: Department of Ultrasound, General Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
Tan-Shi Li: Department of Emergency, General Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
BACKGROUND This study aimed to identify the potential key long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and target genes associated with pneumonia using lncRNA sequencing (lncRNA-seq). MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 9 peripheral blood samples from patients with mild pneumonia (n=3) and severe pneumonia (n=3), as well as volunteers without pneumonia (n=3), were received for lncRNA-seq. Based on the sequencing data, differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE-lncRNAs) were identified by the limma package. After the functional enrichment analysis, target genes of DE-lncRNAs were predicted, and the regulatory network was constructed. RESULTS In total, 99 DE-lncRNAs (14 upregulated and 85 downregulated ones) were identified in the mild pneumonia group and 85 (72 upregulated and 13 downregulated ones) in the severe pneumonia group, compared with the control group. Among these DE-lncRNAs, 9 lncRNAs were upregulated in both the mild and severe pneumonia groups. A set of 868 genes were predicted to be targeted by these 9 DE-lncRNAs. In the network, RP11-248E9.5 and RP11-456D7.1 targeted the majority of genes. RP11-248E9.5 regulated several genes together with CTD-2300H10.2, such as QRFP and EPS8. Both upregulated RP11-456D7.1 and RP11-96C23.9 regulated several genes, such as PDK2. RP11-456D7.1 also positively regulated CCL21. CONCLUSIONS These novel lncRNAs and their target genes may be closely associated with the progression of pneumonia.
