Long noncoding RNA expression profiles of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension rat model

• Differential expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs between HPH rats and controls were detected.
• Relationship between differential expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs was analysed.
• Differentially expressed genes are enriched in pathways participated in HPH.

ObjectiveRecently, long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs) have been proved to be playing crucial roles in various biological processes, yet their role in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) remains unclear. The aim of the present study is to investigate the lncRNA expression signatures in HPH rat model.MethodsSprague Dawley rats were put in normobaric hypoxic chamber (FIO2 10%) eight hours a day or similar normoxic chamber for 3 weeks. Microarray was used to analyze the differential expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs between lung tissues of HPH rat model and control group. Dysregulated expression of selected lncRNAs was confirmed by Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).ResultsA total of 362 lncRNAs were identified to be significantly differentially expressed, among which 86 were up-regulated and 276 were down-regulated with fold-changes >/=2.0 between the two groups. The qRT-PCR results of lung tissues were in consistent with the microarray data.ConclusionsThe expression profile of lncRNAs was significantly altered in HPH rat model which may offer new insights into pathogenesis of this disease and could potentially provide novel diagnostic markers.