Analysis of Long Noncoding RNA and mRNA Expression Profiles in IL-9-Activated Astrocytes and EAE Mice.

Background/Aims: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in the central nervous system associated with demyelination and axonal injury. Astrocyte activation is involved in the pathogenesis of MS and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. This study was designed to find potential IncRNAs in EAE mice and activated astrocytes. Methods: we performed microarray analysis of IncRNAs from the brain tissues of EAE mice and primary mouse astrocytes treated with IL-9(50 ng/ml). 12 IncRNAs were validated through real-time PCR. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analysis were applied to explore the potential functions of IncRNAs. Results: Differentially expressed 3300 IncRNAs and 3250 mRNAs were in the brain tissues of EAE mice, and 3748 IncRNAs and 3332 mRNAs were in activated astrocytes. Notably, there were 2 co-up-regulated IncRNAs and 3 co-down regulated IncRNAs both in the brain tissues of EAE mice and in activated astrocytes, including Gm14005, Gm12478, mouselincRNA1117, AK080435, and mouselincRNA0681, which regulate the ER calcium flux kinetics, zinc finger protein and cell apoptosis. Similarly, there were 7 mRNAs co-up-regulated and 2 mRNAs co-down-regulated both in vivo and in vitro. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analysis showed that the biological functions of differentially expressed mRNAs were associated with metabolism, development and inflammation. The results of real time PCR validation were consistent with the data from the microarrays. Conclusions: Our data uncovered the expression profiles of IncRNAs and mRNAs in vivo and in vitro, which may help delineate the mechanisms of astrocyte activation during MS/EAE process. (C) 2018 The Author(s) Published by Karger AG, Basel.