LncRNA ANRIL/miR-125a axis exhibits potential as a biomarker for disease exacerbation, severity, and inflammation in bronchial asthma

Background This study aimed to explore the correlation of lncRNA ANRIL/miR-125a axis with disease risk, severity, and inflammatory cytokines of bronchial asthma. Methods Plasma samples from 90 patients with bronchial asthma at exacerbation (BA-E), 90 with bronchial asthma at remission (BA-R), and 90 controls (healthy subjects) were collected. The qPCR was used for lncRNA ANRIL and miR-125a detection, and ELISA was adopted for pro-inflammatory cytokines detection. Participants' characteristics, laboratory tests, and the pulmonary ventilation function examinations were recorded. Results LncRNA ANRIL was negatively correlated with miR-125a in BA-E patients, BA-R patients, and controls. LncRNA ANRIL/miR-125a axis was upregulated in BA-E patients compared with BA-R patients and controls. ROC curve analyses illuminated that lncRNA ANRIL/miR-125a axis was of good value in distinguishing BA-E patients from BA-R patients and controls. As to pulmonary ventilation functions, lncRNA ANRIL/miR-125a axis was negatively associated with FEV1/FVC and FEV1%predicted in bronchial asthma patients, especially in BA-E patients. Regarding inflammation, lncRNA ANRIL/miR-125a axis was positively correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokines in bronchial asthma patients, especially in BA-E patients. In addition, lncRNA ANRIL/miR-125a axis was positively correlated with exacerbation severity in BA-E patients. Conclusion LncRNA ANRIL/miR-125a is potentially indicative of disease exacerbation, exacerbation severity, and inflammation for bronchial asthma, while these findings are preliminary and need further confirmation.