LncRNA BMF-AS1 Exerts Anti-Apoptosis Function in COPD by Regulating BMF Expression

Previous studies indicate that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have crucial effect in COPD, but the exact role of most lncRNAs in COPD remains unkown. We detected differential expression of mRNAs and lncRNAs in blood samples from COPD patients (n=3) and healthy controls (n=3) with smoking history by human microarray analysis. Then, we selected lncRNAs and their associated mRNAs which were both differential expression in COPD vs healthy smokers, for quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). A total of 3,359 lncRNAs revealed by microarray analysis have been differentially expressed between the two groups, 1,995 lncRNAs identified to be up-regulated in COPD, whereas 1,364 lncRNAs have been down-regulated. Meanwhile,a total of 3,283 mRNAs have been differentially expressed, 2,589 mRNAs identified to be up-regulated in COPD, whereas 694 mRNAs were down-regulated. qRTPCR showed there was a statistically significant difference between COPD and control group for BMF (p=0.0121), LncRNA RP11-521C20.3 (p<001), CYLD (p=0.003) and lncRNA RP1-85F18.5 (p=0.005). Both the results of microarray analysis and qRT-PCR validation test has showed that LncRNA RP11521C20.3 (BMF antisense RNA 1, BMF-AS1) significantly decreased, while it's associated BMF mRNA increased in COPD. This study indicates that the expression of genome-wide LncRNA in COPD blood samples is different in comparison with healthy smokers by microarray analysis. LncRNA BMF-AS1 expression might potentially predict the apoptosis of COPD by regulating of BMF mRNA expression.