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.