LncRNA TERRA in hybrid with DNA is a relevant biomarker for monitoring patients with meningioma

Abstract

Telomeric repeat-containing RNAs (TERRAs) are expressed from subtelomeric regions, as long non-coding RNAs responsible for maintaining telomere length and stabilizing the genome. After TERRA is transcribed (f-TERRA) from subtelomere regions, it hybridizes (h-TERRA) into telomeres and intergenic regions to maintain genome and telomere stability. Here, we separately determine changes in two TERRA fractions, f-TERRA and h-TERRA levels in relation to telomere length (TL) in first time meningioma patients with preoperative and postoperative comparisons with the control group. Since there is a lack of established biomarkers for monitoring meningiomas despite their high prevalence among primary brain tumors, this study was designed. Fifty patients and 44 healthy controls were included in this study. Real-time quantitative PCR (q-PCR) reactions were performed to determine telomere length (TL), f-TERRA and h-TERRA levels. Statistically significant differences were observed between the levels of f-TERRA, h-TERRA, telomere length (TL), compared with the healthy control group and patients. When postoperative blood h-TERRA levels were compared between the patient group and the control group, no statistically significant differences were observed. However, in the correlation analysis between postoperative tumor volume and postoperative blood h-TERRA levels, a positive, moderate and statistically significant relationship was found. This study highlights the importance of presenting the results by means of preoperative and postoperative comparisons of meningiomas. Based on the available information, we suggest that the levels of f-TERRA and h-TERRA could also be potential biomarkers for diagnostic, therapeutic, and following of meningiomas.