Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Internal Medicine

Background: Long non-codig RNAs are RNA transcripts more than 200 nucleotides in length, which do not encode proteins. Recent studies have reported that differentiation and activation of immune cells, T cells, B cells, macrophages, and natural killer (NK) cells have correlation with long non-coding RNAs, which have also an essential role in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Behcet{u2019}s disease. Objectives: This study aims to assess the expression of long non-coding RNA uc001ykl.1 among SLE patients and BD patients compared to healthy controls and correlation of its level with disease activity in any of both diseases. Methods: Thirty Egyptian patients with SLE (according to ACR revised criteria 1997), thirty Behçet{u2019}s disease Egyptian patients (according to the international study group of Behçet{u2019}s disease 2010) and 30 (age and sex matched) apparently healthy Egyptian controls were enrolled in our study. All our patients were subjected to full history taking and full clinical examination. Disease activity of our SLE patients was determined using the SLEDAI-2k form while BD patients{u2019} activity was assessed using BDCAF. Laboratory investigations in the form of CBC, ESR, CRP, liver function tests and kidney functions were done to all our patients. Uc001ykl.1 was assessed by PCR to all our patients and controls

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