Knoll Marko, Lodish Harvey F, Sun Lei
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, MA 02142, USA.
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore.
Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2015 Mar;11(3):151-60. doi: 10.1038/nrendo.2014.229. Epub 2015 Jan 6.
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a large and diverse group of RNAs that are often lineage-specific and that regulate multiple biological functions. Many are nuclear and are essential parts of ribonucleoprotein complexes that modify chromatin segments and establish active or repressive chromatin states; others are cytosolic and regulate the stability of mRNA or act as microRNA sponges. This Review summarizes the current knowledge of lncRNAs as regulators of the endocrine system, with a focus on the identification and mode of action of several endocrine-important lncRNAs. We highlight lncRNAs that have a role in the development and function of pancreatic β cells, white and brown adipose tissue, and other endocrine organs, and discuss the involvement of these molecules in endocrine dysfunction (for example, diabetes mellitus). We also address the associations of lncRNAs with nuclear receptors involved in major hormonal signalling pathways, such as estrogen and androgen receptors, and the relevance of these associations in certain endocrine cancers.
长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）是一类庞大且多样的RNA，通常具有谱系特异性，并调控多种生物学功能。许多lncRNA定位于细胞核，是核糖核蛋白复合物的重要组成部分，可修饰染色质片段并建立活跃或抑制的染色质状态；其他lncRNA则定位于细胞质，调控mRNA的稳定性或充当微小RNA海绵。本综述总结了目前关于lncRNA作为内分泌系统调节因子的知识，重点关注几种对内分泌重要的lncRNA的鉴定及其作用模式。我们着重介绍了在胰腺β细胞、白色和棕色脂肪组织以及其他内分泌器官的发育和功能中发挥作用的lncRNA，并讨论了这些分子与内分泌功能障碍（如糖尿病）的关系。我们还探讨了lncRNA与参与主要激素信号通路的核受体（如雌激素和雄激素受体）之间的关联，以及这些关联在某些内分泌癌症中的相关性。
