Plasma LncRNA MALAT1 Expressions Are Negatively Associated with Disease Severity of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Background: Long noncoding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (LncRNA MALAT1) has been proven to promote osteogenesis in different health conditions. However, the role of plasma MALAT1 in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) has not been investigated.

Objective: To investigate whether plasma MALAT1 expressions are associated with severity of PMOP.

Methods: A total of 126 patients with PMOP and 126 healthy female control individuals were drafted into study participation. Plasma MALAT1 was detected using RT-PCR. Bone formation marker bone-specific alkaline phosphatase plasma concentration was determined using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Levels of bone absorption marker cross-linked N-telopeptidases of type I collagen were measured in duplicate using enzyme immunoassay. Bone mineral density (BMD) was examined in the total hips, femoral neck, and lumbar (L1-L4) spine using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. We used Genant semiquantitative (GSQ) criteria to assess the degree of vertebral deformity and fracture. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the potential diagnostic value of MALAT1 with regard to the GSQ grading. We used the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to evaluate the symptomatic severity in and functional ability of the study participants.

Results: Plasma MALAT1 expressions were significantly lower in patients with PMOP, compared with healthy controls. Plasma MALAT1 expressions in patients with PMOP were positively associated with total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar (L1-L4) spine BMD. In total, 95 patients experienced vertebral deformity or fracture (VF), and 31 had no fractures. Plasma MALAT1 expressions were markedly decreased in patients with VF, compared with patients without fractures. Plasma MALAT1 expressions were negatively related to GSQ grading in patients with VF. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that decreased plasma MALAT1 expression exhibits decent diagnostic value with regard to GSQ grading. Finally, we discovered that plasma MALAT1 expression was also negatively associated with VAS and ODI.

Conclusion: Plasma MALAT1 expressions are negatively associated with severity of PMOP.