Long Noncoding RNA NEAT1 Expression and Its Target miR-124 in Diabetic Ischemic Stroke Patients

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for stroke and may be linked to poorer post-stroke outcomes. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully identified. In this study we assessed the association of the lncRNA Nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1)'s expression and its target miRNA-124 with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in type II diabetic patients (T2DM). Methods and Results: Diabetic patients with stroke, non-diabetics with stroke, diabetics without stroke, and controls were recruited. NEAT1 and miR-124 expression levels in plasma samples from the participants were investigated using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). C reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. In the DM+AIS group, NEAT1 expression was considerably higher, compared with AIS group and with control group. In comparison to the AIS-only patients, DM patients and controls, miR-124 expression was considerably lower in the DM+AIS group. NEAT1 was shown to have good predictive value for AIS risk in diabetics, based on Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. In both the DM+AIS and the AIS group, NEAT1 levels was strongly linked with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Also, a significant positive correlation was observed between NEAT1 expression and the inflammatory markers CRP and TNF-alpha and significant negative association with miRNA-124 in patient groups. Conclusion: In diabetic patients, the lncRNA NEAT1 may influence the incidence, severity, inflammation, and prognosis of AIS. NEAT1 expression levels could be used as a diagnostic marker of stroke in diabetic patients.