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Long non-coding RNA in health and disease

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Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) interact with the nuclear architecture and are involved in fundamental biological mechanisms, such as imprinting, histone-code regulation, gene activation, gene repression, lineage determination, and cell proliferation, all by regulating gene expression. Understanding the lncRNA regulation of transcriptional or post-transcriptional gene regulation expands our knowledge of disease. Several associations between altered lncRNA function and gene expression have been linked to clinical disease phenotypes. Early advances have been made in developing lncRNAs as biomarkers. Several mouse models reveal that human lncRNAs have very diverse functions. Their involvement in gene and genome regulation as well as disease underscores the importance of lncRNA-mediated regulatory networks. Because of their tissue-specific expression potential, their function as activators or repressors, and their selective targeting of genes, lncRNAs are of potential therapeutic interest. We review the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs, their major functional principles, and discuss their role in Mendelian disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders.

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Notes

  1. Chromatin looping: Studying the structural properties and spatial organization of chromosomes is important for the understanding and evaluation of the regulation of gene expression, DNA replication and repair, and recombination. One example of chromosomal interaction is chromosome looping in which a chromosomal region can fold in order to bring an enhancer and associated TF within close proximity to a gene.

  2. PIWI: The piwi or PIWI, originally P-element-induced wimpy testis in Drosophila, class of genes was originally identified as encoding regulatory proteins responsible for maintaining incomplete differentiation in stem cells. PIWI proteins are highly conserved nucleic acid-binding proteins.

  3. CTCF: Transcriptional repressor CTCF, also known as 11-zinc finger protein or CCCTC-binding factor, is a transcription factor that is involved in many cellular processes, including transcriptional regulation, insulator activity, and regulation of chromatin architecture.

  4. Paraspeckle: A paraspeckle is an irregularly shaped cell compartment, approximately 0.2–1 μm in size, found in the nuclear interchromatin space.

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Acknowledgements

We apologize to all scientists whose important work of lncRNAs could not be cited in this review. The German Research Foundation (DFG MA-5028/1–3, LU-435/15-1) supports our work. We also receive support from the ECRC, a joint cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) and the Medical Faculty of the Charité.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no interest conflicts.

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  1. Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between the Charité Medical Faculty and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Lindenbergerweg 80, 13125, Berlin, Germany

    Philipp G. Maass, Friedrich C. Luft & Sylvia Bähring

  2. Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, 13125, Berlin, Germany

    Philipp G. Maass, Friedrich C. Luft & Sylvia Bähring

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  1. Philipp G. Maass
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  2. Friedrich C. Luft
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  3. Sylvia Bähring
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Correspondence to Philipp G. Maass.

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Maass, P.G., Luft, F.C. & Bähring, S. Long non-coding RNA in health and disease. J Mol Med 92, 337–346 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-014-1131-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-014-1131-8

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