Long non-coding RNA TUG1 is down-regulated in Friedreich's ataxia

Long non-coding RNA TUG1 is down-regulated in Friedreich's ataxia. Mert Koka, Hui Li, Rumana Akther, Susan Perlman, Darice Wong, Brent L Fogel, David R Lynch, Vijayendran Chandran, bioRxiv 2023.09.22.558879; doi: 10.1101/2023.09.22.558879 

This suggests that elevated TUG1 levels correlate with earlier onset and more severe cases. In summary, this study highlights Tug1 as a crucial blood-based biomarker for FRDA. Tug1's consistent expression variance across human and mouse tissues is closely associated to disease severity and key FRDA pathways. It also correlates strongly with Fxn levels, making it a promising early, non-invasive marker. TUG1 offers potential for FRDA monitoring and therapeutic development, warranting further clinical research.