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.