Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Immunological defects have been shown to play a significant role in the progression of BD. The serum levels of two long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), NEAT1 and MALAT1, were examined in patients with BD to identify their role in the disease pathogenesis. Both lncRNAs were mentioned as essential regulators of innate immune responses and have a crucial role in inflammatory diseases. Fifty patients with BD and a similar number of control individuals were involved in our study. At enrollment, data was collected from patients and controls, and the disease severity in active cases was determined using the Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF). Levels of the two studied biomarkers in the serum, NEAT1 and MALAT1, were investigated by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). NEAT1 levels were significantly turned down in BD patients (fold changes = 0.77, p = 0.0001) and correlated negatively with the BDCAF (r = −0.41; p = 0.003). On the other hand, the MALAT1 levels were significantly up-regulated in BD patients (fold changes = 2.65, p = 0.003). Serum levels of NEAT1 were significantly decreased in patients with active states than in stationary cases (0.387 versus 1.99, respectively; p = 0.01) and compared with controls (p = 0.001). Also, NEAT1 levels were significantly increased in patients with stationary states compared to controls (p = 0.03). There was a positive association between NEAT1 and MALAT1 levels among BD patients (r = 0.29, p = 0.04). Our findings demonstrate a possible role of NEAT1 and MALAT1 in the pathogenesis of BD.

Objective: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and their target microRNAs were documented in multiple studies to have a significant role in different joint disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). The current work aimed to determine the potential role of lnc-PVT1 and miR-146a as promising biomarkers to distinguish between RA, OA patients, and healthy individuals. Methods: The expression levels of lnc-PVT1 and its target miR-146a in the serum were measured for three different groups, including patients with RA (40), OA patients (40), and healthy controls (HCs) (40). Participating individuals were subjected to a full history investigation and clinical examination. Blood samples were tested for ESR, RF, CBC, as well as liver and renal functions. Serum was used to detect the relative expression levels of lnc-PVT1 and miR-146a and we correlated the levels with RA and OA activity and severity signs. Results: Lnc-PVT1 expression level was greater among patients with RA compared to that of OA patients, with a fold change median of 2.62 and 0.22, respectively (p = 0.001). The miR-146a fold change was significantly demonstrated between the RA, OA, and HCs groups. There was no correlation between both biomarkers with the disease activity scales (DAS28) of RA, the Knee injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), or any sign of detection of the disease severity of OA. Conclusions: lnc-PVT1 and miR-146a could be considered as promising biomarkers for the diagnosis of RA and OA and may have an important role as therapeutic targets in the future.

Introduction: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder marked by the overproduction of antibodies that attack the body's tissues, especially focusing on double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and small nuclear RNA-associated proteins like Sm, Ro, La, and nuclear RNP. The manifestations of SLE often involve the integumentary, muscular and skeletal, renal, and blood-forming systems. Research has correlated increased serum concentrations of interleukin-23 (IL-23) with the development of several autoimmune diseases.The objective of the current investigation was to evaluate the serum concentration of IL-23 in patients with SLE and to investigate its potential correlation with various clinical parameters, including disease activity.Subjects and Methods: This research investigation enrolled 50 individuals with SLE, identified according to the 2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria, alongside a control group of 50 healthy subjects matched for age and sex. The SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) served to quantify disease activity among the SLE patients. Laboratory evaluations included ESR, anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody, complement components 3 and 4 (C3 and C4), and CRP. Interleukin-23 (IL-23) concentrations in serum were quantified in both the patient and control groups employing an ELISA technique.Results: The study revealed a notable elevation in serum IL-23 levels in individuals diagnosed with SLE, exhibiting a mean concentration of 82.1 ± 75 mg/dL, in contrast to the healthy control group, which presented a mean of 44.9 ± 10.6 mg/dL (P-value < 0.001).Conclusions: The levels of IL-23 are significantly higher in individuals with SLE than in those without the condition.