Chodurska Barbara, Kunej Tanja
University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Animal Science, Slovenia.
Medical University of Łódź, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Poland.
Noncoding RNA Res. 2025 Jan 13;11:313-327. doi: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2025.01.004. eCollection 2025 Apr.
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate numerous biological functions in animals. Despite recent advances in lncRNA research, their structural and functional annotation and classification remain an ongoing challenge. This review provides a comprehensive overview of human lncRNAs, highlighting their genomic organization, mode of action and role in physiological and pathological processes. Subgroups of lncRNA genes are discussed using representative examples and visualizations of genomic organization. The HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) categorizes lncRNAs into nine subgroups: (1) microRNA non-coding host genes, (2) small nucleolar RNA non-coding host genes, (3) long intergenic non-protein coding RNAs (LINC), (4) antisense RNAs, (5) overlapping transcripts, (6) intronic transcripts, (7) divergent transcripts, (8) long non-coding RNAs with non-systematic symbols and (9) long non-coding RNAs with FAM root systems. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a separate class that shares some characteristics with lncRNAs and are divided into exonic, intronic and intronic-exonic types. LncRNAs act as molecular signals, decoys, scaffolds and sponges for microRNAs and often function as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). LncRNAs are involved in various physiological and pathological processes, such as cell differentiation, p53-mediated DNA damage response, glucose metabolism, inflammation and immune functions. They are associated with several diseases, including various types of neoplasms, Alzheimer's disease and autoimmune diseases. A clear classification system for lncRNA is essential for understanding their biological role and for facilitating practical applications in biomedical research. Future studies should focus on drug development and biomarker discovery. As important regulators of various biological processes, lncRNAs represent promising targets for innovative therapies.
长链非编码RNA（lncRNAs）在动物中调节多种生物学功能。尽管lncRNA研究最近取得了进展，但其结构和功能注释及分类仍然是一项持续的挑战。本综述全面概述了人类lncRNAs，强调了它们的基因组组织、作用模式以及在生理和病理过程中的作用。使用基因组组织的代表性实例和可视化讨论了lncRNA基因的亚组。人类基因组组织命名委员会（HGNC）将lncRNAs分为九个亚组：（1）微小RNA非编码宿主基因，（2）小核仁RNA非编码宿主基因，（3）长链基因间非蛋白质编码RNA（LINC），（4）反义RNA，（5）重叠转录本，（6）内含子转录本，（7）发散转录本，（8）具有非系统符号的长链非编码RNA，以及（9）具有FAM根系的长链非编码RNA。环状RNA（circRNAs）是一类与lncRNAs有一些共同特征的独立类别，分为外显子、内含子和内含子-外显子类型。lncRNAs作为微小RNA的分子信号、诱饵、支架和海绵，通常作为竞争性内源性RNA（ceRNAs）发挥作用。lncRNAs参与各种生理和病理过程，如细胞分化、p53介导的DNA损伤反应、葡萄糖代谢、炎症和免疫功能。它们与多种疾病相关，包括各种类型的肿瘤、阿尔茨海默病和自身免疫性疾病。一个清晰的lncRNA分类系统对于理解其生物学作用以及促进生物医学研究中的实际应用至关重要。未来的研究应集中在药物开发和生物标志物发现上。作为各种生物学过程的重要调节因子，lncRNAs代表了创新疗法的有希望的靶点。
