Gene regulation in the immune system by long noncoding RNAs

• Published in: Nature immunology Vol. 18; no. 9; pp. 962 - 972
• Main Authors: Chen, Y Grace, Satpathy, Ansuman T, Chang, Howard Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.09.2017; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/250/248; 631/250/2502; Adaptive Immunity - genetics; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Biomedicine; Cell Differentiation; Cell Lineage; Chromatin; Chromatin - metabolism; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - metabolism; DNA - metabolism; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene regulation; Genetic regulation; Humans; Immune response; Immune system; Immunity, Innate - genetics; Immunology; Infectious Diseases; Lymphopoiesis - genetics; Macrophages - immunology; Macrophages - metabolism; Myelopoiesis - genetics; Physiological aspects; Properties; review-article; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA - metabolism; RNA, Long Noncoding - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism
• ISSN: 1529-2908; 1529-2916; 1529-2916
• DOI: 10.1038/ni.3771

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are being increasingly appreciated as important regulators of gene expression. Chang and colleagues review the roles identified for lncRNAs in the immune system and discuss models for how lncRNAs mediate their effects. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators of gene expression in the immune system. Studies have shown that lncRNAs are expressed in a highly lineage-specific manner and control the differentiation and function of innate and adaptive cell types. In this Review, we focus on mechanisms used by lncRNAs to regulate genes encoding products involved in the immune response, including direct interactions with chromatin, RNA and proteins. In addition, we address new areas of lncRNA biology, such as the functions of enhancer RNAs, circular RNAs and chemical modifications to RNA in cellular processes. We emphasize critical gaps in knowledge and future prospects for the roles of lncRNAs in the immune system and autoimmune disease.