Long non-coding RNA UCA1 correlates with elevated disease severity, Th17 cell proportion, inflammatory cytokines, and worse prognosis in acute ischemic stroke patients

Background: This study aimed to explore the association of long non-coding RNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (lncRNA UCA1) expression with disease severity, inflammation, and prognosis in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Methods: The lncRNA UCA1 expression of blood CD4(+) T cells from 160 first-episode AIS patients and 160 non-AIS patients with high-stroke-risk factors (as controls) was detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. For AIS patients, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Th17 cell ratio in CD4(+) T cells was detected by flow cytometry. Their follow-up data were recorded up to 36 months, recurrence of stroke or death. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) analysis was assessed according to the follow-up data. Results: LncRNA UCA1 expression was higher in AIS patients compared to controls (p < 0.001), and it was positively correlated to national institute of health stroke scale score (r = 0.436, p < 0.001), Th17 cell ratio (r = 0.398, p < 0.001), IL-6 (r = 0.204, p = 0.010), IL-17 (r = 0.326, p < 0.001), and ICAM1 (r = 0.276, p < 0.001) in AIS patients. Regarding prognosis, lncRNA UCA1 expression was elevated in 2-year recurrence/death AIS patients compared to those patients without recurrence or death within 2 years (p = 0.033), also increased in 3-year recurrence/death AIS patients compared to those patients without recurrence or death within 3 years (p = 0.008). Furthermore, high lncRNA UCA1 expression was associated with worse accumulating RFS (p = 0.017) in AIS patients. Conclusion: LncRNA UCA1 might sever as a candidate prognostic biomarker in AIS patients, suggesting its potency for AIS management.