Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are highly expressed in brain and alterations in their levels have been shown in many neurodegenerative disorders. Evidence has shown that lncRNAs play role in the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and it can be used as a potential therapeutic target for the disease. In this study, we aimed to detect whether the serum expression levels of four candidate lncRNAs; H19, GAS5, HAR1B and LINC01783 are related with the clinical findings and treatment of PD or not. 83 patients and 50 healthy controls, matching in age and gender, are included in this study. We assessed how severe the disease is, by using the Hoehn Yahr (HY) staging and the Unified PD rating scale (UPDRS). Venous blood samples were taken from the participants. Serum samples were centrifuged and stored at -80°C until analysis. Expression levels of these lncRNAs were analyzed by a real-time PCR instrument in the laboratory. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS program. There was no significant difference between the PD patients and healthy controls in these lncRNAs serum levels. Age, gender, education level, presence of hypertension, type of onset of the disease and predominance of the right and left side, disease duration and treatment did not differ in lncRNA expression levels. Solely, there was a significant negative correlation between GAS5 and HY and UPDRS scores. Patients with family history had significantly higher levels of LINC01783. This is the first comprehensive study on lncRNAs in Turkish patients with PD. If any altered expression levels of these four lncRNAs were shown in the serum, it would provide an easy way to analyze underlying pathogenesis of the disease and contribute the possible biomarkers of PD.
