Aberrant expressions of circulating lncRNA NEAT1 and microRNA‐125a are linked with Th2 cells and symptom severity in pediatric allergic rhinitis

OBJECTIVE: Long noncoding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (lnc‐NEAT1) and its target microRNA‐125a (miR‐125a) are reported to regulate immune and inflammation process in allergic rhinitis (AR). Hence, this study intended to investigate the correlation between lnc‐NEAT1 and miR‐125a expressions, as well as their clinical values in pediatric AR patients. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from 80 pediatric AR patients, 40 disease controls (DCs), and 40 healthy controls (HCs) were collected to detect lnc‐NEAT1 and miR‐125a expressions by reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction. For pediatric AR patients only, serum interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) and interleukin (IL)‐10 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; meanwhile, T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cells in CD4(+) T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Lnc‐NEAT1 was overexpressed, while miR‐125a downregulated in pediatric AR patients compared to DCs and HCs (all p < 0.001). Moreover, lnc‐NEAT1 expression negatively correlated with miR‐125a expression in pediatric AR patients (p = 0.002), but not in DCs (p = 0.226) or HCs (p = 0.237). Furthermore, in pediatric AR patients, lnc‐NEAT1 expression positively associated with TNSS (p < 0.001), sneezing score (p = 0.006), and congestion score (p = 0.008); miR‐125a expression was negatively related to TNSS (p < 0.001), itching score (p = 0.040), and sneezing score (p = 0.005). Additionally, lnc‐NEAT1 expression positively, while miR‐125a expression negatively correlated with Th2 cells and IL‐10 (all p < 0.05), but they were not correlated with Th1 cells or IFN‐γ in pediatric AR patients. CONCLUSION: Circulating lnc‐NEAT1 and miR‐125a are aberrantly expressed and linked with Th2 cells and symptom severity in pediatric allergic rhinitis.