Long non‐coding RNAs: Promising new targets in pulmonary fibrosis

Abstract

Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by progressive and irreversible scarring in the lungs with poor prognosis and treatment. It is caused by various factors, including environmental and occupational exposures, and some rheumatic immune diseases. Even the rapid global spread of the COVID‐19 pandemic can also cause pulmonary fibrosis with a high probability. Functions attributed to long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) make them highly attractive diagnostic and therapeutic targets in fibroproliferative diseases. Therefore, an understanding of the specific mechanisms by which lncRNAs regulate pulmonary fibrotic pathogenesis is urgently needed to identify new possibilities for therapy. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms and implications of lncRNAs targeted protein‐coding and non‐coding genes during pulmonary fibrogenesis, and systematically analyze the communication of lncRNAs with various types of RNAs, including microRNA, circular RNA and mRNA. Finally, we propose the potential approach of lncRNA‐based diagnosis and therapy for pulmonary fibrosis. We hope that understanding these interactions between protein‐coding and non‐coding genes will contribute to the development of lncRNA‐based clinical applications for pulmonary fibrosis.

Systematic analyses identify the anti-fibrotic role of lncRNA TP53TG1 in IPF

“…Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs), as regulators of a variety of biological processes, have been shown to be involved in the pathophysiology of IPF, including fibroblast activation [ 7 ]. Our previous study suggested that lncRNA PFAR, identified with the mouse fibrosis arrays, promotes fibroblast differentiation during pulmonary fibrosis by sponging miR-138 to regulate the YAP1-Twist axis [ 8 ].…”

Epigenetic Changes and Functions in Pneumoconiosis

“…The expression of miRNA is also regulated by epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation, lncRNA, cir-cRNA, and histone modification [22,[53][54][55][56][57][58][59]. Many miRNAs are also regulated in posttranscriptional processing; for example, miRNAs are spliced by argonaute (AGO) proteins [60], Drosha [61,62], Dicer [63], silencing regulatory protein KRSP [64], and tristetraprolin (TTP) [64]. The stability of miRNA is another factor that affects its expression level.…”

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: Their Functional Mechanisms and Recent Research Progress

“… 127 Compared with conventional protein probes, lncRNAs are the preferred potential targets because they are smaller molecules and are more diverse than proteins. 128 Hence, the designed fluorescent probe can be synthesized readily, penetrate cells efficiently, and be used for in vivo imaging of OSF. Autofluorescence spectroscopy takes advantage of the fact that different diseased tissues have unique tissue morphologic characteristics.…”