Circular and long non-coding RNAs and their role in ophthalmologic diseases

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs are >200-nucleotide-long RNA molecules which lack or have limited protein-coding potential. They can regulate protein formation through several different mechanisms. Similarly, circular RNAs are reported to play a critical role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Changes in the expression pattern of these molecules are known to underlie various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular, neurological and immunological disorders (Rinn & Chang, 2012; Sun & Kraus, 2015). Recent studies suggest that they are differentially expressed both in healthy ocular tissues as well as in eye pathologies, such as neovascularization, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, glaucoma, cataract, ocular malignancy or even strabismus (Li et al., 2016). Aetiology of ocular diseases is multifactorial and combines genetic and environmental factors, including epigenetic and non-coding RNAs. In addition, disorders like diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration lack biomarkers for early detection as well as effective treatment methods that would allow controlling the disease progression at its early stages. The newly discovered non-coding RNAs seem to be the ideal candidates for novel molecular markers and therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge about gene expression regulators – long non-coding and circular RNA molecules in eye diseases.

The Potential Role of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) in Glaucoma: A Review

“…processes by targeting genes [6]. Long noncoding RNAs (ln-cRNAs) are >200 nucleotides in length that regulate transcription (cis or trans), the organization of nuclear domains, and RNA or protein formation through several different mechanisms [6,74,75]. Recently, noncoding RNAs have become a focus of glaucoma research, as shown in Table.1.…”

Oxidative stress and antioxidants in the trabecular meshwork

“…MiRNAs are abundantly present in biological fluids and are reliable diagnostic and predictive biomarkers (Weber et al, 2010). Long noncoding RNAs are >200 nucleotide-long RNA molecules that lack or have limited protein-coding potential but can regulate miRNAs or protein formation through several different mechanisms (Wawrzyniak et al, 2018). Recently, noncoding RNAs have become popular subjects of glaucoma research (Table 1), providing attractive opportunities to defend against oxidative stress and to identify novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of glaucoma.…”

Potential Protective and Therapeutic Roles of the Nrf2 Pathway in Ocular Diseases: An Update

“…MicroRNAs are a class of small noncoding RNAs (19-25 nucleotides) that regulate a wide range of cellular processes by repressing the transcription or translation of their target genes. lncRNAs are >200-nucleotidelong RNA molecules that lack or have limited proteincoding potential but can regulate transcription in cis or trans, the organization of nuclear domains, and RNA or protein formation through several different mechanisms [166,167]. Recently, noncoding RNAs became a hot topic in scientific research, even in ocular research, as shown in Table 2.…”