LncRNAs in vascular biology and disease

• Published in: Vascular pharmacology Vol. 114; pp. 145 - 156
• Main Authors: Simion, Viorel, Haemmig, Stefan, Feinberg, Mark W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2019; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Animals; Biological activity; Biomarkers; Blood vessels; Blood Vessels - metabolism; Blood Vessels - pathology; cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - genetics; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - pathology; Cell activation; Cell proliferation; Cholesterol; Cyclooxygenase-2; Disease control; Endothelial cells; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Endothelial Cells - pathology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Leukocytes; Lipid metabolism; lncRNAs; Macrophages; Metabolism; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - metabolism; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - pathology; Muscles; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - metabolism; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - pathology; non-coding RNAs; Phenotypes; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; RNA, Long Noncoding - metabolism; Signal Transduction; Smooth muscle; Therapeutic applications; vascular biology; Vascular diseases; lncRNAs; cardiovascular disease; vascular biology; non-coding RNAs
• ISSN: 1537-1891; 1879-3649; 1879-3649
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2018.01.003

Accumulating studies indicate that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the regulation of diverse biological processes involved in homeostatic control of the vessel wall in health and disease. However, our knowledge of the mechanisms by which lncRNAs control gene expression and cell signaling pathways is still nascent. Furthermore, only a handful of lncRNAs has been functionally evaluated in response to pathophysiological stimuli or in vascular disease states. For example, lncRNAs may regulate endothelial dysfunction by modulating endothelial cell proliferation (e.g. MALAT1, H19) or angiogenesis (e.g. MEG3, MANTIS). LncRNAs have also been implicated in modulating vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypes or vascular remodeling (e.g. ANRIL, SMILR, SENCR, MYOSLID). Finally, emerging studies have implicated lncRNAs in leukocytes activation (e.g. lincRNA-Cox2, linc00305, THRIL), macrophage polarization (e.g. GAS5), and cholesterol metabolism (e.g. LeXis). This review summarizes recent findings on the expression, mechanism, and function of lncRNAs implicated in a range of vascular disease states from mice to human subjects. An improved understanding of lncRNAs in vascular disease may provide new pathophysiological insights and opportunities for the generation of a new class of RNA-based biomarkers and therapeutic targets. [Display omitted]