Role of lncRNA MGP202 in Modulating B Cell Dynamics and Its Implications in Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: The upregulation of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) MGP202 in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients suggests its potential significance in the disease. Understanding its role in UC pathogenesis and its impact on B cell dynamics is crucial for diagnostic and therapeutic advancements.

Methods: We investigated the expression and function of MGP202 in UC patients by examining its localization in colon specimens, performing knockdown and overexpression experiments in Raji B cells, and evaluating its interaction with hsa-miR-5590-3p. Furthermore, we explored the downstream effect on interleukin-33 (IL-33) expression.

Results: We found elevated expression of MGP202 in UC patients compared to healthy controls. Knockdown of MGP202 impeded B cell proliferation, while overexpression enhanced it. Direct binding between MGP202 and hsa-miR-5590-3p was confirmed. IL-33 expression decreased with hsa-miR-5590-3p overexpression but increased with MGP202 overexpression. Increased IL-33 levels were detected in the colon mucosa of UC patients.

Conclusions: Our study reveals the upregulation of MGP202 in UC patients and its regulation of B cell proliferation through sponging hsa-miR-5590-3p and modulating IL-33 expression. These findings highlight MGP202 as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for UC, particularly in the context of B cell dynamics. Further investigations are warranted to evaluate clinical applicability and unravel additional mechanisms related to MGP202 modulation of B cell behavior in UC.