GNG11mRNA and long non-coding RNA PEBP1-1:1: Emerging role in axial spondyloarthritis patients

Aim of the work: To evaluate expression of Guanine nucleotide binding protein gamma 11(GNG11) mRNA and long non-coding (lnc) RNA PEBP1-1:1 in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients and to appraise their probable relation with disease manifestations and activity. Patients and methods: This study included 50 axSpA patients and 50 controls. Disease activity was evaluated using BASDAI. Radiographic X ray grading of lumbar spine and sacroiliacs was appraised using BASRI and The New York sacroiliitis radiological grading criteria. Quantitative analysis of expression of GNG11mRNA and lnc RNA PEBP1-1:1 by real- time PCR was accomplished. Results: The mean age of axSpA patients was 37.3 ± 10 years. AxSpA patients exhibited significantly increased expression of GNG11 mRNA and lnc RNA PEBP1-1:1 compared to controls (p < 0.001 each). There was no difference in GNG11 mRNA and lnc RNA PEBP1:1 between patients with high and low BASDAI (p = 0.49, p = 0.71). The expression of GNG11 mRNA and lnc RNA PEBP1:1 did not show difference between radiological grades of lumbosacral spine (p = 0.76, p = 0.34), or sacroiliacs (p = 0.92, p = 0.74). There was a significant reverse relationship between lnc RNA PEBP1:1 expression levels and lateral bending test (right side: r = -0.32, p = 0.03) (left side: r = -0.38, p = 0.01). There was no association between the expression level of GNG11 mRNA or lnc RNA PEBP1:1 and either disease duration, BASDAI, or radiographic grading. Conclusion: Upregulated expression of GNG11 mRNA and lncRNA PEBP1-1:1 in axSpA patients suggests their role as key regulators of the molecular pathogenesis of axSpA, yet they were not related to diseases activity or radiographic grading.