Evaluation of GAS8-AS1 Long Non-Coding RNA and GAS8 Target Gene Expression in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Expression of the growth arrest specific 8 (GAS8) and its naturally occurring antisense RNA (asRNA) (GAS8-AS1) was assessed in tumoral tissues of different origins. However, their association with immune-related disorders has been poorly understood. In the current study, we evaluated the expression levels of these genes in 50 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients compared with age and sex matched control. Expression assays were performed on peripheral blood samples of study participants following extraction of total RNA and cDNA synthesis using blood. Measurements were then made using the TaqMan (Real Time PCR) method with specific primers and probes sequences. Expression of both genes was significantly higher compared to controls (P=0.001 and p < 0.0001 respectively). The difference in GAS8 expression was also significant in all female patients and females aged less than 50 compared to the corresponding control subjects (P=0.002 and 0.006 respectively). GAS8-AS1 expression was higher in male patients in both age-based subgroups compared to the corresponding healthy subjects (p < 0.0001). Expressions of both genes were inversely correlated with age of male participants but no other subgroups. The current study shows the importance of GAS8 and GAS8-AS1 in the pathogenesis of MS and the putative role of GAS8-AS1 as a diagnostic biomarker in a subset of patients.