Microarray expression profile analysis of long noncoding RNAs in premature brain injury: A novel point of view

•This study successfully built a premature brain injury animal model.•The expression profile of lncRNAs in premature mice was described.•Core regulatory lncRNAs and transcription factors were identified.•The SRY gene may be a key transcription factor in premature brain injury.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are abundant in the central nervous system and have a key role in brain function as well as many neurological disorders. However, the regulatory function of lncRNAs in the premature brain has not been well studied. This study described the expression profile of lncRNAs in premature mice using microarray technology. 1999 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 955 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analysis showed that these lncRNAs were involved in multiple biological processes, including the nervous system development and inflammatory response. Additionally, the lncRNA-mRNA-network and TF-gene-lncRNA-network were constructed to identify core regulatory lncRNAs and transcription factors. The sex-determining region of Y chromosome (SRY) gene may be a key transcription factor that regulates premature brain development and injury. This study for the first time represents an expression profile of differentially expressed lncRNAs in the premature brain and may provide a novel point of view into the mechanisms of premature brain injury.