title: Characters, functions and clinical perspectives of long non-coding RNAs.
abstract: It is well established that most of the human genome and those of other mammals and plants are transcribed into RNA without protein-coding capacity, which we define as non-coding RNA. From siRNA to microRNA, whose functions and features have been well characterized, non-coding RNAs have been a popular topic in life science research over the last decade. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), however, as a novel class of transcripts, are distinguished from these other small RNAs. Recent studies have revealed a diverse population of lncRNAs with different sizes and functions across different species. These populations are expressed dynamically and act as important regulators in a variety of biological processes, especially in gene expression. Nevertheless, the functions and mechanisms of most lncRNAs remain unclear. In this review, we present recent progress in the identification of lncRNAs, their functions and molecular mechanisms, their roles in human diseases, their potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications as well as newer technologies for identifying deregulated lncRNAs in disease tissues.
authors.affiliation: Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, #139 Renmin Middle Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Ruifang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, #139 Renmin Middle Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Yuwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, #139 Renmin Middle Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Haijing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medical Research Center, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, #139 Renmin Middle Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China. zhaoming307@csu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, #139 Renmin Middle Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China. qianlu5860@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Qianjin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004194:Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006801:Humans; D021381:Protein Transport; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding
keywords: Diagnostics; Epigenetics; Human diseases; LncRNAs; Therapies