Expression pattern of long non‐coding RNAs MALAT1 and MEG3 in COVID‐19 patients

Background COVID‐19 is a novel infectious disease for which no specific treatment exists. It is likely that a combination of genetic and non‐genetic factors predispose to it. Expression levels of genes that are involved in the interaction with SARS‐CoV‐2 or the host response are thought to play a role in disease susceptibility and severity. It is crucial to explore biomarkers for disease severity and outcome. Herein, we studied the expression levels and effects of long non‐coding metastasis‐associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (lnc‐MALAT1) and long non‐coding maternally expressed gene 3 (lnc‐MEG3) in COVID‐19 patients. The study enrolled 35 hospitalized and 35 non‐hospitalized COVID‐19 patients, and 35 healthy controls. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan, complete blood count (CBC), ferritin, C‐reactive protein (CRP), D‐dimer and analysis of lnc‐MALAT1 and lnc‐MEG3 expression were done. Results There was a significant relation between ferritin, CRP, D‐dimer levels, oxygen saturation, CT‐CORADS score and disease severity. Lnc‐MALAT1 was significantly higher but lnc‐MEG3 was significantly lower in patients vs. controls, and in hospitalized vs. non‐hospitalized patients. Elevated MALAT1 and reduced MEG3 levels were significantly associated with more elevated ferritin, CRP, D‐dimer levels, lower oxygen saturation, higher CT‐CORADS score and poor survival. Moreover, MALAT1 and MEG3 levels displayed higher sensitivity and specificity as predictors of COVID‐19 severity compared with other prognostic biochemical markers such as ferritin, CRP, and D‐dimer. Conclusions MALAT1 levels are higher, whereas MEG3 levels are lower in COVID‐19 patients. Both are linked to disease severity and mortality and could emerge as predictive biomarkers for COVID‐19 severity and therapeutic targets. MALAT1 levels are higher, whereas MEG3 levels are lower, in COVID‐19 patients. Both are linked to disease severity and mortality and could emerge as prognostic biomarkers for COVID‐19 severity.