title: Long Non-Coding RNAs: The Key Players in Glioma Pathogenesis.
abstract: Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) represent a novel class of RNAs with no functional protein-coding ability, yet it has become increasingly clear that interactions between lncRNAs with other molecules are responsible for important gene regulatory functions in various contexts. Given their relatively high expressions in the brain, lncRNAs are now thought to play important roles in normal brain development as well as diverse disease processes including gliomagenesis. Intriguingly, certain lncRNAs are closely associated with the initiation, differentiation, progression, recurrence and stem-like characteristics in glioma, and may therefore be exploited for the purposes of sub-classification, diagnosis and prognosis. LncRNAs may also serve as potential therapeutic targets as well as a novel biomarkers in the treatment of glioma. In this article, the functional aspects of lncRNAs, particularly within the central nervous system (CNS), will be briefly discussed, followed by highlights of the important roles of lncRNAs in mediating critical steps during glioma development. In addition, the key lncRNA players and their possible mechanistic pathways associated with gliomagenesis will be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China. kkarrie@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Karrie Mei-Yee
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China. zhxq@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qin
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China. kkarrie@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Gilberto Ka-Kit
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Leung
keywords: CRNDE; H19; HOTAIR; MEG3; biomarker; glioblastoma stem cell; glioma; gliomagenesis; lncRNA