RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Growing evidence suggests that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an organ-damaging systemic autoimmune illness, may be influenced by long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). This study aimed to assess the relative expression of lncRNAs (MIR31HG, NKILA, and PACER) in patients with SLE to evaluate their role in the disease. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study involved 70 patients with SLE and 70 apparently healthy control subjects. The expression levels of lnc-MIR31HG, NKILA, and PACER were quantified using real-time PCR. RESULTS: Lnc-MIR31HG, NKILA, and PACER were significantly upregulated in SLE cases compared to controls (P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis revealed a 91.43 % sensitivity of PACER for the diagnosis of SLE at a cutoff point of > 1.46, followed by NKILA with 90 % sensitivity at a cutoff point of > 1.16, and MIR31HG with 85.71 % sensitivity at a cutoff point of > 1.43. MIR31HG had the highest sensitivity for the diagnosis of lupus nephritis (86.67 %) at a cutoff point of > 7.19, then NKILA with 80 % sensitivity at a cutoff point of > 8.12, and finally PACER expression with 73.33 % sensitivity at a cutoff point of > 18.19. Moreover, MIR31HG and NKILA revealed a significant correlation with albumin/creatinine ratio, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and the SLEDAI score. Regression analysis revealed the potential roles of MIR31HG, NKILA, and PACER expression as predictors for SLE. CONCLUSION: An upregulated lncRNA panel (MIR31HG, NKILA, and PACER) could play a role in the pathogenesis and, hence, the predispositiontoSLE. MIR31HG and NKILA can serve as prognostic markers significantly linked with disease activity.