The correlation of long non‐coding RNA intersectin 1‐2 with disease risk, disease severity, inflammation, and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of long non-coding RNA intersectin 1-2 (lnc-ITSN1-2) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) risk, and investigate its correlation with disease severity, inflammation, and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in AIS patients. METHODS: Three hundred and twenty AIS patients were recruited, and plasma samples were collected within 24 hours after admission. lnc-ITSN1-2 expression form plasma was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was assessed, and RFS was calculated. Meanwhile, 320 controls were enrolled and plasma samples were collected on the enrollment, and lnc-ITSN1-2 expression was detected by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: lnc-ITSN1-2 expression was increased in AIS patients compared to controls (P < .001), and receiver operating characteristic curve revealed its predictive value for AIS risk (area under the curve: 0.804, 95% confidence interval, 0.763-0.845). In AIS patients, lnc-ITSN1-2 expression was positively correlated with NIHSS score (r = 0.464, P < .001). For inflammation, lnc-ITSN1-2 expression was positively correlated with CRP (r = 0.398, P < .001), TNF-α (r = 0.502, P < .001), IL-1β (r = 0.313, P < .001), IL-6 (r = 0.207, P < .001), IL-8 (r = 0.400, P < .001), IL-17 (r = 0.272, P < .001), and IL-22 (r = 0.222, P < .001). In terms of predicted target microRNAs, lnc-ITSN1-2 expression was negatively correlated with microRNA (miR)-107 (r = -0.467, P < .001), miR-125a (r = -0.494, P < .001), and miR-146a (r = -0.126, P = .025). For prognosis, high lnc-ITSN1-2 expression was correlated with worse RFS in AIS patients. CONCLUSION: lnc-ITSN1-2 exerts a good predictive value for AIS risk; meanwhile, its increased expression is correlated with enhanced disease severity, elevated inflammation, and worse RFS in AIS patients.