title: The non-coding skin: exploring the roles of long non-coding RNAs in epidermal homeostasis and disease.
abstract: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently gained increasing attention because of their crucial roles in gene regulatory processes. Functional studies using mammalian skin as a model system have revealed their role in controlling normal tissue homeostasis as well as the transition to a diseased state. Here, we describe how lncRNAs regulate differentiation to preserve an undifferentiated epidermal progenitor compartment, and to maintain a functional skin permeability barrier. Furthermore, we will reflect on recent work analyzing the impact of lncRNAs on the progression from normal epithelium to the development of skin disorders and cancer.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hombach
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kretz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding
keywords: differentiation; epidermis; lncRNA; melanoma; non-coding RNA; skin