Abstract 2041 Role of Long Non-Coding RNA hLinfRNA7 in Inflammation and Immune Disorders

Inflammation is a pivotal biological process in a plethora of human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The role of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in inflammation and immune response has emerged as an area of significant interest in the past decade, yet the regulation and functions of LncRNAs remain scarcely understood. Here, our aim is to decipher the role of such an uncharacterized LncRNA, hLinfRNA7 (Human Long non-coding Inflammation Associated RNA-7) in terms of inflammation and immune response. hLinfRNA7 is a lncRNA located at chromosome 8 in the IDO1 gene locus. Our research demonstrates that hLinfRNA7, along with cytokines and proinflammatory genes (e.g., IL-6, iNOS, etc.), are significantly upregulated upon LPS treatment on THP1-derived macrophages (THP1-MΦ). Furthermore, RNA and protein analysis upon knockdown of hLinfRNA7 revealed that inflammatory genes and cytokines are repressed despite augmentation of LPS on THP1-MΦ. Silencing of hLinfRNA7 also alleviates the level of nitric oxide secretion influenced by expression of iNOS. These findings suggest that hLinfRNA7 has a potential role in macrophage-mediated inflammation and immune response. Mechanistic study reveals that hLinfRNA7 is regulated by NF-κB signaling indicating a potential mechanism for immune regulation via this LncRNA. Overall, the current research demonstrates a potential mechanism of hLinfRNA7 in inflammation and immune response, along with its emergence as a biomarker in critical inflammatory diseases. National Institute of Health Schwartzberg Companies