Long non-coding RNAs with essential roles in neurodegenerative disorders

Recently,with the advent of high-resolution and high-throughput sequencing technologies,an increasing number of long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)have been found to be involved in the regulation of neuronal function in the central nervous system with specific spatiotemporal patterns,across different neurodegenerative diseases.However,the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs during neurodegeneration remain poorly understood.This review provides an overview of the current knowledge of the biology of lncRNAs and focuses on introducing the latest identified roles,regulatory mechanisms,and research status of lncRNAs in Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,Huntington's disease,and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Finally,this review discusses the potential values of lncRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases,hoping to provide broader implications for developing effective treatments.

Characterization of N6-methyladenosine long non-coding RNAs in sporadic congenital cataract and age-related cataract

AIM:To characterize the N6-methyladenosine(m6A)modification patterns in long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)in sporadic congenital cataract(CC)and age-related cataract(ARC).METHODS:Anterior capsule of the lens were collected from patients with CC and ARC.Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation with next-generation sequencing and RNA sequencing were performed to identify m6A-tagged lncRNAs and lncRNAs expression.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses and Gene Ontology annotation were used to predict potential functions of the m6A-lncRNAs.RESULTS:Large amount of m6A peaks within lncRNA were identified for both CC and ARC,while the level was much higher in ARC(49870 peaks)than that in CC(18688 peaks),yet those difference between ARC in younger age group(ARC-1)and ARC in elder age group(ARC-2)was quite slight.A total of 1305 hypermethylated and 1178 hypomethylated lncRNAs,as well as 182 differential expressed lncRNAs were exhibited in ARC compared with CC.On the other hand,5893 hypermethylated and 5213 hypomethylated lncRNAs,as well as 155 significantly altered lncRNA were identified in ARC-2 compared with ARC-1.Altered lncRNAs in ARC were mainly associated with the organization and biogenesis of intracellular organelles,as well as nucleotide excision repair.CONCLUSION:Our results for the first time present an overview of the m6A methylomes of lncRNA in CC and ARC,providing a solid basis and uncovering a new insight to reveal the potential pathogenic mechanism of CC and ARC.

Navigating the labyrinth of long non-coding RNAs in colorectal cancer:From chemoresistance to autophagy

Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs),with transcript lengths exceeding 200 nucleotides and little or no protein-coding capacity,have been found to impact colorectal cancer(CRC)through various biological processes.LncRNA expression can regulate autophagy,which plays dual roles in the initiation and progression of cancers,including CRC.Abnormal expression of lncRNAs is associated with the emergence of chemoresistance.Moreover,it has been confirmed that targeting autophagy through lncRNA regulation could be a viable approach for combating chemoresistance.Two recent studies titled“Human β-defensin-1 affects the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway and autophagy in colon cancer cells through long non-coding RNA TCONS_00014506”and“Upregulated lncRNA PRNT promotes progression and oxaliplatin resistance of colorectal cancer cells by regulating HIPK2 transcription”revealed novel insights into lncRNAs associated with autophagy and oxaliplatin resistance in CRC,respectively.In this editorial,we particularly focus on the regulatory role of lncRNAs in CRC-related autophagy and chemoresistance since the regulation of chemotherapeutic sensitivity by intervening with the lncRNAs involved in the autophagy process has become a promising new approach for cancer treatment.

Construction of prognostic markers for gastric cancer and comprehensive analysis of pyroptosis-related long non-coding RNAs

BACKGROUND China's most frequent malignancy is gastric cancer(GC),which has a very poor survival rate,and the survival rate for patients with advanced GC is dismal.Pyroptosis has been connected to the genesis and development of cancer.The function of pyroptosis-related long non-coding RNAs(PRLs)in GC,on the other hand,remains uncertain.AIM To explore the construction and comprehensive analysis of the prognostic characteristics of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)related to pyroptosis in GC patients.METHODS The TCGA database provided us with 352 stomach adenocarcinoma samples,and we obtained 28 pyroptotic genes from the Reactome database.We examined the correlation between lncRNAs and pyroptosis using the Pearson correlation coefficient.Prognosis-related PRLs were identified through univariate Cox analysis.A predictive signature was constructed using stepwise Cox regression analysis,and its reliability and independence were assessed.To facilitate clinical application,a nomogram was created based on this signature.we analyzed differences in immune cell infiltration,immune function,and checkpoints between the high-risk group(HRG)and low-risk group(LRG).RESULTS Five hundred and twenty-three PRLs were screened from all lncRNAs(absolute correlation coefficient>0.4,P<0.05).Nine PRLs were included in the risk prediction signature that was created through stepwise Cox regression analysis.We determined the risk score for GC patients and employed the median value as the dividing line between HRG and LRG.The ability of the risk signature to predict the overall survival(OS)of GC is demonstrated by the Kaplan-Meier analysis,risk curve,receiver operating characteristic curve,and decision curve analysis curve.The risk signature was shown to be an independent prognostic factor for OS in both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.HRG showed a more efficient local immune response or modulation compared to LRG,as indicated by the predicted signal pathway analysis and examination of immune cell infiltration,function,and checkpoints(P<0.05).CONCLUSION In general,we have created a brand-new prognostic signature using PRLs,which may provide ideas for immunotherapy in patients with GC.

Clinical application value of long non-coding RNAs signatures of genomic instability in predicting prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)presents challenges due to its high recurrence and metastasis rates and poor prognosis.While current clinical diagnostic and prognostic indicators exist,their accuracy remains imperfect due to their biol-ogical complexity.Therefore,there is a quest to identify improved biomarkers for HCC diagnosis and prognosis.By combining long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)expression and somatic mutations,Duan et al identified five representative lncRNAs from 88 lncRNAs related to genomic instability(GI),forming a GI-derived lncRNA signature(LncSig).This signature outperforms previously re-ported LncSig and TP53 mutations in predicting HCC prognosis.In this editorial,we comprehensively evaluate the clinical application value of such prognostic evaluation model based on sequencing technology in terms of cost,time,and practicability.Additionally,we provide an overview of various prognostic models for HCC,aiding in a comprehensive understanding of research progress in pro-gnostic evaluation methods.

Role of long non-coding RNAs in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is emerging as a common cause of chronic liver disease in children and adults.NAFLD can progress to steatohepa-titis and potentially even hepatocellular carcinoma.Early identification of pati-ents at risk for progressive disease is crucial for managing NAFLD.Recent studies have identified long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs),circular RNAs,and microRNAs as playing important roles in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.These noncoding RNAs are involved in modulating several metabolic pathways such as hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism,oxidative stress,and even carcinogenesis.Elevated levels of lncARSR and lncRNA nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 have been found in patients with NAFLD.In addition,lncRNAs such as PRYP4-3 and RP11-128N14.5 can distinguish patients with NAFLD from healthy indi-viduals.Increased MEG3 expression has been observed in both NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis,suggesting that it may help predict patients at risk for disease progression.With advances in transcriptomics,we may discover additional targets to help in the identification and prognostication of NAFLD.

Identification and Characterization of Long Non-Coding RNAs Involved in Sex-Related Gene Regulation in Kelp Saccharina japonica

Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)regulate a variety of biological processes,including sexual reproduction and differentiation.Saccharina japonica,a commercially important brown alga in China,shows remarkable sexual dimorphism in haploid gametophytes.The sex of Saccharina japonica gametophytes is determined by UV sexual system.However,no results have been reported on the lncRNAs involved in the sex-related gene regulation of S.japonica.This study identified a number of lncRNAs and assessed their expression levels in male and female gametophytes.Among them,a total of 405 lncRNAs and 211 mRNAs showed differential expressions.Furthermore,the functions of target genes of differentially expressed lncRNAs(DELs)differed from those of differentially expressed genes(DEGs),suggesting that lncRNA may interact with other functional proteins,in addition to DEGs,to involve sex regulation in S.japonica.There were 32 and 90 potential cis-regulatory and trans-regulatory interactions between DELsDEGs,respectively.Five of these lncRNAs(LNC_002974,LNC_021059,LNC_038466,LNC_051584,and LNC_027400)interacted with putative male sex determination region(SDR)genes,suggesting that they act as regulators in gametophytes'sex regulation potentially.Findings from this study contribute to our understanding of the roles of lncRNAs in sex differentiation and lay the foundation for functional studies of candidate lncRNAs in the future.

Involvement of long non-coding RNAs in pear fruit senescence under high-and low-temperature conditions

Pear fruit senescence under high-and low-temperature conditions has been reported to be mediated by microRNAs.Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs),which can function as competing endogenous RNAs that interact with microRNAs,may also be involved in temperature-affected fruit senescence.Based on the transcriptome and microRNA sequencings,in this study,3330 lncRNAs were isolated from Pyrus pyrifolia fruit.Of these lncRNAs,2060 and 537 were responsive to high-and low-temperature conditions,respectively.Of these differentially expressed lncRNAs,82 and 24 correlated to the mRNAs involved in fruit senescence under high-and low-temperature conditions,respectively.Moreover,three lncRNAs were predicted to be competing endogenous RNAs(ceRNAs)that interact with the microRNAs involved in fruit senescence,while one and two ceRNAs were involved in fruit senescence under high-and low-temperature conditions,respectively.A dual-luciferase assay showed that the interaction of an lncRNA with a microRNA disrupts the action of the microRNA on the expression of its target mRNA(s).Furthermore,four alternative splicing-derived lncRNAs interacted with miR172i homologies(Novel_88 and Novel_69)to relieve the repressed expression of their target and produce an miR172i precursor.Correlation analysis of microRNA expression suggested that Novel_69 is likely involved in the cleavage of the pre-miR172i hairpin to generate mature miR172i.Taken together,lncRNAs are involved in pear fruit senescence under high-or low-temperature conditions through ceRNAs and the production of microRNA.

Molecular hallmarks of long non-coding RNAs in aging and its significant effect on aging-associated diseases

Aging is linked to the deterioration of many physical and cognitive abilities and is the leading risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. The growing aging population is a significant healthcare problem globally that researchers must investigate to better understand the underlying aging processes. Advances in microarrays and sequencing techniques have resulted in deeper analyses of diverse essential genomes(e.g., mouse, human, and rat) and their corresponding cell types, their organ-specific transcriptomes, and the tissue involved in aging. Traditional gene controllers such as DNA-and RNA-binding proteins significantly influence such programs, causing the need to sort out long non-coding RNAs, a new class of powerful gene regulatory elements. However, their functional significance in the aging process and senescence has yet to be investigated and identified. Several recent researchers have associated the initiation and development of senescence and aging in mammals with several well-reported and novel long non-coding RNAs. In this review article, we identified and analyzed the evolving functions of long non-coding RNAs in cellular processes, including cellular senescence, aging, and age-related pathogenesis, which are the major hallmarks of long non-coding RNAs in aging.

Expression profile of long non-coding RNAs in the intestine of black rockfish Sebastes schlegelii in response to Edwardsiella tarda infection

Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)are a class of transcripts longer than 200 bp,which have been emerged as essential regulators in numerous biological processes.Black rockfish(Sebastes schlegelii)is an economic fish that widely cultured in the coastal areas of China,Japan,and South Korea.With the expansion of aquacultural scale,various pathogens have threatened its industry and reduced its economic values.It has been reported that lncRNA were involved in the immune response and metabolic pathway in teleost,while no study is available on identification and functional analysis of lncRNAs in black rockfish so far.Herein,this study was performed to identify lncRNAs in the intestine of black rockfish after Edwardsiella tarda infection.In our results,a total of 9311 lncRNAs were identified through highthroughput sequencing,and 102 lncRNAs were significantly regulated following challenge,which were predicted to target 3348 mRNAs.Results of Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses of the se target genes showed they were function in catalytic activity,hydrolase activity,defense response and peptidase activity,which involved in metabolic pathways and immune related pathways.In addition,47 lncRNAs and 8 differentially expressed mRNAs(DEmRNAs)showed co-expression at two or more infection time points with metabolism and immunity functions.Moreover,real-time quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)was performed to verify the reliability of sequencing gene expression analysis results.This research laid the foundation for further investigation of the regulatory roles of lncRNAs in the intestinal immune response of black rockfish.

Bioinformatics Analysis and Experimental Verification of Prognostic and Biological Significance of Autophagy-Related Long Non-Coding RNAs in Gastric Carcinoma

Background:Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)play a vital role in autophagy modulation and tumor progression.However,the key lncRNAs and their functions in gastric cancer(GC)remain largely unknown.Methods:A bioinformatic analysis of GC patients’gene expression profiling data from the Cancer Genome Atlas database was performed to identify autophagy-related lncRNAs that are associated with predictive risk.Through Cox regression and Lasso regression analyses,the autophagy-related lncRNAs that are associated with prognosis were identified,and a novel prognostic model for GC was established.The model was then used to evaluate the clinical features and predictive risk of individuals with GC.By using two datasets,GSE 62254(n=300)and GSE 15459(n=192),from Gene Expression Omnibus,its effectiveness was verified.Gene set enrichment analysis according to hallmark and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes were used to determine the possible biological roles of these lncRNAs.Furthermore,the HOXD antisense growth-associated long non-coding RNA(HAGLR)mechanism in GC was discovered through in vitro and in vivo experiments.Results:Six lncRNAs associated with autophagy in GC were identified,and a new prognostic risk model based on these lncRNAs was established.The six-lncRNA signature was significantly associated with adverse clinicopathological features and found to be an independent GC prognostic factor.The model was proven to be effective and robust by GSE62254 and GSE15459.According to gene set enrichment analysis,the six lncRNAs appeared to be tightly linked to autophagy-related and cancer-related mechanisms.HAGLR was also found to promote tumor growth by enhancing autophagy signaling in GC.Conclusion:A novel prognostic model integrating HAGLR that can effectively evaluate and predict the prognostic risk of GC patients was established.The results indicated that HAGLR promotes gastric cancer progression by enhancing autophagy and is anticipated to be a potential new target for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Long non-coding RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma: Potential roles and clinical implications

Long non-coding RNAs(lnc RNAs) are a subgroup of non-coding RNA transcripts greater than 200 nucleotides in length with little or no protein-coding potential. Emerging evidence indicates that lnc RNAs may play important regulatory roles in the pathogenesis and progression of human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Certain lnc RNAs may be used as diagnostic or prognostic markers for HCC, a serious malignancy with increasing morbidity and high mortality rates worldwide. Therefore, elucidating the functional roles of lnc RNAs in tumors can contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HCC and may help in developing novel therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the recent progress regarding the functional roles of lnc RNAs in HCC and explore their clinical implications as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers and molecular therapeutic targets for HCC.

Advancements in our understanding of circular and long non-coding RNAs in spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury(SCI),either from trauma or degenerative changes,can res ult in severe disability and impaired quality of life.Understanding the cellular processes and molecular mechanisms that underlie SCI is imperative to identifying molecular targets for potential therapy.Recent studies have shown that non-coding RNAs,including both long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)and circular RNAs(circRNAs),regulate various cellular processes in SCI.In this review,we will describe the changes in lncRNA and circRNA expression that occur after SCI and how these changes may be related to SCI progression.Current evidence for the roles of lncRNAs and circRNAs in neuronal cell death and glial cell activation will also be reviewed.Finally,the possibility that lncRNAs and circRNAs are novel modulato rs of SCI pathogenesis will be discussed.

Long non-coding RNAs in cancer

Long non-coding RNAs （IncRNAs）, gradually being paid attention to, have been found playing a critical role in regulation of cellular processes such as cell growth and apoptosis, what is more, accumulating evidence indicates that IncRNAs also play a critical role in regulation of carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Here, we will summarize the recent researches about some IncRNAs in the development of cancers, hoping to give a new view about the study in the mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression.

Role of exosomal long non-coding RNAs in colorectal cancer

Exosomes are a class of small extracellular vesicles,30-150 nm in diameter,that transfer biological information(e.g.,DNA,RNA,and protein)via cell-to-cell communication.Exosomes play critical roles in the occurrence and development of human cancers,including colorectal cancer(CRC).Recent studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)can be encapsulated in exosomes,which transfer lncRNAs from secretory cells into recipient cells.This process affects the progression of CRC,since exosomal lncRNAs display special and extensive functions in CRC tumorigenesis,including malignant proliferation,metastasis,chemoresistance,and inflammatory response.Moreover,due to their specificity and sensitivity,exosomal lncRNAs are released into body fluids(e.g.,urine,sputum,and plasma),which have the potential to be biomarkers of CRC tumorigenesis within screening efforts and medical and epidemiologic research.In this review,we aim to clarify the function and mechanism of exosomal lncRNAs in CRC tumorigenesis and provide a strategy for early diagnosis and medical treatment of this malignancy.

Expression of long non-coding RNAs in complete transection spinal cord injury: a transcriptomic analysis

Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)are abundantly expressed in the central nervous system and exert a critical role in gene regulation via multiple biological processes.To uncover the functional significance and molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in spinal cord injury(SCI),the expression signatures of lncRNAs were profiled using RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)technology in a Sprague-Dawley rat model of the 10th thoracic vertebra complete transection SCI.Results showed that 116 of 14,802 detected lncRNAs were differentially expressed,among which 16—including eight up-regulated(H19,Vof16,Hmox2-ps1,LOC100910973,Ybx1-ps3,Nnat,Gcgr,LOC680254)and eight down-regulated(Rmrp,Terc,Ngrn,Ppp2r2b,Cox6a2,Rpl37a-ps1,LOC360231,Rpph1)—demonstrated fold changes>2 in response to transection SCI.A subset of these RNA-seq results was validated by quantitative real-time PCR.The levels of 821 mRNAs were also significantly altered post-SCI;592 mRNAs were up-regulated and 229 mRNAs were down-regulated by more than 2-fold.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)analyses showed that differentially expressed mRNAs were related to GO biological processes and molecular functions such as injury and inflammation response,wound repair,and apoptosis,and were significantly enriched in 15 KEGG pathways,including cell phagocytosis,tumor necrosis factor alpha pathway,and leukocyte migration.Our results reveal the expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the rat spinal cord of a complete transection model,and these differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs represent potential novel targets for SCI treatment.We suggest that lncRNAs may play an important role in the early immuno-inflammatory response after spinal cord injury.This study was approved by the Administration Committee of Experimental Animals,Guangdong Province,China.

Diagnostic and prognostic potential of tissue and circulating long non-coding RNAs in colorectal tumors

Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)are members of the non-protein coding RNA family longer than 200 nucleotides.They participate in the regulation of gene and protein expression influencing apoptosis,cell proliferation and immune responses,thereby playing a critical role in the development and progression of various cancers,including colorectal cancer(CRC).As CRC is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies worldwide with high mortality,its screening and early detection are crucial,so the identification of disease-specific biomarkers is necessary.LncRNAs are promising candidates as they are involved in carcinogenesis,and certain lncRNAs(e.g.,CCAT1,CRNDE,CRCAL1-4)show altered expression in adenomas,making them potential early diagnostic markers.In addition to being useful as tissue-specific markers,analysis of circulating lncRNAs(e.g.,CCAT1,CCAT2,BLACAT1,CRNDE,NEAT1,UCA1)in peripheral blood offers the possibility to establish minimally invasive,liquid biopsy-based diagnostic tests.This review article aims to describe the origin,structure,and functions of lncRNAs and to discuss their contribution to CRC development.Moreover,our purpose is to summarise lncRNAs showing altered expression levels during tumor formation in both colon tissue and plasma/serum samples and to demonstrate their clinical implications as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for CRC.

Expression Profile of Altered Long Non-coding RNAs in Patients with HBV-associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

In China, hepatitis B virus （HBV） infection is the major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）, which is called HBV-related HCC （HBV-HCC）, but the pathogenesis has not been clearly elu- cidated. Long non-coding RNAs （lncRNAs） have been paid increasing attention to, as an important regulatory molecule involved in many biological processes, as well as a variety of diseases. This study examined lncRNA that might play an important role in HBV-HCC pathogenesis by conducting lncRNA and mRNA profile comparison between HBV-HCC and normal liver tissues. The differentially ex- pressed lncRNA and mRNA profiles between HBV-HCC and normal liver tissues were analyzed by mi- croarrays. The potential protein-encoding gene regulated by lncRNA, and the biological function （gene ontology, pathway analysis） of the target gene were investigated. The results showed that the expression levels of lncRNA and mRNA in HBV-HCC tissues were different from those in normal liver tissues. As compared with normal liver tissue, 837 （4.30%） lncRNAs exhibited more than two-fold change （P〈0.05）; 325 were up-regulated, and 512 were down-regulated; 991 （5.70%） mRNAs exhibited more than 2-fold change （P〈0.05）; 733 were up-regulated and 258 were down-regulated in HBV-HCC tissue. Besides, there were 7 lncRNAs with above 10-fold elevation, 6 lncRNAs with above 10-fold decrease, 18 mRNAs with above 10-fold elevation and 11 mRNAs with above 10-fold decrease. 444 （53.05%） lncRNAs had their corresponding mRNAs, some of which were adjacent to lncRNAs. The biological analysis showed that the target gene of differentially expressed lncRNAs took part in the important bio- logical regulatory function. Target gene-related pathway analysis revealed the pathways in carcinoma and mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathways significantly changed in the HBV-HCC tissues as compared with normal liver tissues （P〈0.05）. It was suggested that as compared with normal liver tissues, the expression of lncRNAs in HBV-HCC tissues changed significantly, and lncRNAs played a key role in the pathogenesis of HBV-HCC probably by mainly regulating the carci- noma-related signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathways.

Circulating micro RNAs and long non-coding RNAs in gastric cancer diagnosis:An update and review

Gastric cancer(GC) is the fourth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Micro RNAs(mi RNAs) and long non-coding RNAs(lnc RNAs) are the most popular non-coding RNAs in cancer research. To date,the roles of mi RNAs and lnc RNAs have been extensively studied in GC,suggesting that mi RNAs and lnc RNAs represent a vital component of tumor biology. Furthermore,circulating mi RNAs and lnc RNAs are found to be dysregulated in patients with GC compared with healthy individuals. Circulating mi RNAs and lnc RNAs may function as promising biomarkers to improve the early detection of GC. Multiple possibilities for mi RNA secretion have been elucidated,including active secretion by microvesicles,exosomes,apoptotic bodies,highdensity lipoproteins and protein complexes as well as passive leakage from cells. However,the mechanism underlying lnc RNA secretion and the functions of circulating mi RNAs and lnc RNAs have not been fully illuminated. Concurrently,to standardize results of global investigations of circulating mi RNAs and lnc RNAs biomarker studies,several recommendations for preanalytic considerations are put forward. In this review,we summarize the known circulating mi RNAs and lnc RNAs for GC diagnosis. The possible mechanism of mi RNA and lnc RNA secretion as well as methodologies for identification of circulating mi RNAs and lnc RNAs are also discussed. The topics covered here highlight new insights into GC diagnosis and screening.

Behind the curtain of non-coding RNAs; long non-coding RNAs regulating hepatocarcinogenesis

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the most common and aggressive cancers worldwide. HCC is the fifth common malignancy in the world and the second leading cause of cancer death in Asia. Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs) are RNAs with a length greater than 200 nucleotides that do not encode proteins. lncRNAs can regulate gene expression and protein synthesis in several ways by interacting with DNA, RNA and proteins in a sequence specific manner. They could regulate cellular and developmental processes through either gene inhibition or gene activation. Many studies have shown that dysregulation of lncRNAs is related to many human diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, genetic disorders, neurological diseases, immune mediated disorders and cancers. However, the study of lncRNAs is challenging as they are poorly conserved between species, their expression levels aren't as high as that of m RNAs and have great interpatient variations. The study of lncRNAs expression in cancers have been a breakthrough as it unveils potential biomarkers and drug targets for cancer therapy and helps understand the mechanism of pathogenesis. This review discusses many long non-coding RNAs and their contribution in HCC, their role in development, metastasis, and prognosis of HCC and how to regulate and target these lncRNAs as a therapeutic tool in HCC treatment in the future.