Promoter Mutation Analysis of Long-Non-coding RNA RMRP Gene in Solid Tumors

lncRNA-mediated synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis: A perspective for biomarker development

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a regulatory class of noncoding RNAs with a wide range of activities such as transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulations. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that various lncRNAs contribute to the initiation and progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) through distinctive mechanisms. The present study reviews the recent findings on lncRNA role in RA development. It focuses on the involvement of different lncRNAs in the main steps of RA pathogenesis including T cell activation, cytokine dysregulation, fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) activation and joint destruction. Besides, it discusses the current findings on RA diagnosis and the potential of lncRNAs as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers in Rheumatology clinic.

Long Non-coding RNA RMRP in the Pathogenesis of Human Disorders

RNA component of mitochondrial RNA processing endoribonuclease (RMRP) is a non-coding transcript firstly acknowledged for its association with the cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH) syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive condition. This transcript has been spotted in both nucleus and mitochondria. In addition to its role in the pathogenesis of CHH, RMRP participates in the pathogenesis of cancers. Independent studies in bladder cancer, colon cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, breast carcinoma and multiple myeloma have confirmed the oncogenic effects of RMRP. Mechanistically, RMRP serves as a sponge for some miRNAs such as miR-206, miR-613, and miR-217. In addition to these miRNAs, expressions of tens of miRNAs have been altered following RMRP silencing, implying the vast extent of RMRP/miRNA network. In the present narrative review, we explain the role of RMRP in the development of cancers and some other non-malignant disorders.

Disease-Causing Mutations and Rearrangements in Long Non-coding RNA Gene Loci

The classic understanding of molecular disease-mechanisms is largely based on protein-centric models. During the past decade however, genetic studies have identified numerous disease-loci in the human genome that do not encode proteins. Such non-coding DNA variants increasingly gain attention in diagnostics and personalized medicine. Of particular interest are long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes, which generate transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that are not translated into proteins. While most of the estimated ~20,000 lncRNAs currently remain of unknown function, a growing number of genetic studies link lncRNA gene aberrations with the development of human diseases, including diabetes, AIDS, inflammatory bowel disease, or cancer. This suggests that the protein-centric view of human diseases does not capture the full complexity of molecular patho-mechanisms, with important consequences for molecular diagnostics and therapy. This review illustrates well-documented lncRNA gene aberrations causatively linked to human diseases and discusses potential lessons for molecular disease models, diagnostics, and therapy.