The non-coding RNA interactome in joint health and disease

• Published in: Nature reviews. Rheumatology Vol. 17; no. 11; pp. 692 - 705
• Main Authors: Ali, Shabana A, Peffers, Mandy J, Ormseth, Michelle J, Jurisica, Igor, Kapoor, Mohit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Nature Publishing Group 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Arthritis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - genetics; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - immunology; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - physiopathology; Biomarkers - analysis; Cell death; Cell proliferation; Development and progression; Disease; Epigenesis, Genetic - immunology; Epigenesis, Genetic - physiology; Extracellular matrix; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation - physiology; Genetic aspects; Genomics; Health aspects; Homeostasis; Humans; Inflammation - genetics; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - physiopathology; Inflammation - therapy; Joint diseases; Joint Diseases - genetics; Joint Diseases - immunology; Joint Diseases - physiopathology; Joint Diseases - therapy; Joints - immunology; Joints - physiology; Joints - physiopathology; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; MicroRNAs; miRNA; Non-coding RNA; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis - genetics; Osteoarthritis - immunology; Osteoarthritis - physiopathology; Rheumatoid arthritis; RNA; RNA - classification; RNA - physiology; RNA, Untranslated - biosynthesis; RNA, Untranslated - classification; RNA, Untranslated - physiology; Signal transduction; Therapeutic targets; United States
• ISSN: 1759-4790; 1759-4804
• DOI: 10.1038/s41584-021-00687-y

Non-coding RNAs have distinct regulatory roles in the pathogenesis of joint diseases including osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As the amount of high-throughput profiling studies and mechanistic investigations of microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs in joint tissues and biofluids has increased, data have emerged that suggest complex interactions among non-coding RNAs that are often overlooked as critical regulators of gene expression. Identifying these non-coding RNAs and their interactions is useful for understanding both joint health and disease. Non-coding RNAs regulate signalling pathways and biological processes that are important for normal joint development but, when dysregulated, can contribute to disease. The specific expression profiles of non-coding RNAs in various disease states support their roles as promising candidate biomarkers, mediators of pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. This Review synthesizes literature published in the past 2 years on the role of non-coding RNAs in OA and RA with a focus on inflammation, cell death, cell proliferation and extracellular matrix dysregulation. Research to date makes it apparent that 'non-coding' does not mean 'non-essential' and that non-coding RNAs are important parts of a complex interactome that underlies OA and RA.