Functional network analysis reveals biological roles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in MOG35–55 specific CD4+T helper cells

Abstract Long non-coding RNAs have the potential to regulate immune responses. Their impact on multiple sclerosis has remained elusive. For illustrating their roles in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) pathogenesis, we investigated the differential expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs in CD4 + Th cells obtained from myelin oligodendrocytic glycoprotein 35–55 (MOG 35–55 )-induced EAE and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) controls. We observed differential expression of 1112 lncRNAs and 519 mRNAs in CD4 + Th cells. The functional network showed lncRNAs had the capacity to modulate EAE pathogenesis via regulating many known EAE regulators such as Ptpn6. Predicting the function of lncRNAs demonstrated that dysregulated lncRNAs were closely associated with the development of EAE. These dysregulated lncRNAs may have function in EAE and they could be novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets of EAE. However, the precise mechanisms and biological functions of these specific lncRNAs in EAE pathogenesis require further study.