Long non-coding RNA PVT1, a novel biomarker for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease progression surveillance and acute exacerbation prediction potentially through interaction with microRNA-146a

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the abilities of long non-coding RNA PVT1 (lnc-PVT1) and microRNA-146a (miR-146a) in predicting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) susceptibility and acute exacerbation risk, moreover, to explore the association of lnc-PVT1 with disease severity, inflammation, and miR-146a in patients with COPD.

Methods: A total of 80 acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) patients, 80 stable COPD patients, and 80 healthy controls (HCs) were consecutively recruited. Peripheral blood samples of all participants were collected to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and serum: PBMCs were used to detect lnc-PVT1 and miR-146a by RT-qPCR; serum was used to detect inflammatory cytokines by ELISA. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage of COPD was assessed.

Results: Lnc-PVT1 expression was highest in AECOPD patients, followed by stable COPD patients and HCs. Receiver operating characteristic curves disclosed that lnc-PVT1 distinguished AECOPD patients and stable COPD patients from HCs, also distinguished AECOPD patients from stable COPD patients. In AECOPD patients and stable COPD patients, lnc-PVT1 expression positively correlated with GOLD stage and levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17. Moreover, lnc-PVT1 was negatively correlated with miR-146a. For miR-146a, its expression was lowest in AECOPD patients, followed by stable COPD patients and HCs, and it predicted reduced COPD susceptibility and decreased acute exacerbation risk; meanwhile, it negatively correlated with GOLD stage and inflammatory cytokine levels in AECOPD patients and stable COPD patients.

Conclusion: Lnc-PVT1 assists the disease management and acute exacerbation risk monitoring of COPD via interaction with miR-146a.