Long noncoding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1/miRNA-124 axis correlates with increased disease risk, elevated inflammation, deteriorative disease condition, and predicts decreased survival of sepsis

We aimed to investigate the correlation of long noncoding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (lnc-NEAT1), microRNA-124 (miR-124) and lnc-NEAT1/miR-124 axis with disease risk, severity, inflammatory cytokines, and survival of sepsis. Eighty-two patients with sepsis and 82 healthy controls (HCs) were consecutively enrolled. Blood samples were collected for detection of lnc-NEAT1 and miR-124 expressions (using RT-qPCR) and measurement of inflammatory cytokines expressions (by ELISA). Severity and organ failure were assessed by acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, and survival was assessed. Lnc-NEAT1 expression was increased while miR-124 expression was decreased in patients with sepsis compared to HCs, and both of them were able to distinguish patients with sepsis from HCs. For disease condition, lnc-NEAT1 positively associated with APACHE II score, SOFA score, and expressions of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), whereas miR-124 negatively correlated with APACHE II score, SOFA score and levels of serum creatinine (Scr), CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-17 (IL-17). Regarding prognosis, lnc-NEAT1 was upregulated but miR-124 was downregulated in nonsurvivors compared to survivors. Additionally, lnc-NEAT1 negatively correlated with miR-124. Besides, lnc-NEAT1/miR-124 axis was increased in patients with sepsis compared to HCs, and positively associated with APACHE II score, SOFA score, and levels of Scr, CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-17, while negatively correlated with survival. Most importantly, lnc-NEAT1/miR-124 axis presented numerically increased predictive value for sepsis risk and survival compared to each index alone. Lnc-NEAT1/miR-124 axis correlates with increased sepsis risk, and associates with higher inflammation, deteriorative disease condition, and decreased survival in patients with sepsis.