LAUSR

OBJECTIVE Long non-coding RNA maternally expressed gene 3 (lnc-MEG3) directly targets microRNA-21 (miR-21) to regulate the vascular microenvironment, and is closely implicated in the pathology of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, no research regarding the interaction of lnc-MEG3 and miR-21 in AIS patients has been conducted, to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, we performed this study to evaluate the correlation of lnc-MEG3 with miR-21, and to explore their clinical role for AIS management. METHODS A total of 170 AIS patients and 100 controls with at least two high-risk factors for stroke were enrolled. The expression of lnc-MEG3 and miR-21 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Lnc-MEG3 expression was increased in AIS patients and could differentiate AIS patients from controls using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.874 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.833-0.914. Lnc-MEG3 expression was positively correlated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17A and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and its high expression was also correlated with elevated accumulating recurrence rate in AIS patients. In addition, lnc-MEG3 expression was negatively correlated with miR-21 expression in AIS patients. Regarding miR-21, it was reduced in AIS patients and could differentiate AIS patients from controls with AUC of 0.889 (95% CI: 0.850-0.927). Also, miR-21 expression was negatively correlated with TNF-α, IL-17A, NIHSS score and accumulating recurrence rate in AIS patients. CONCLUSION Lnc-MEG3 is negatively correlated with miR-21, and both factors are related to disease risk, inflammatory cytokines, disease severity and recurrence risk of AIS.