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Review
. 2019 Apr 23;20(8):1977.
doi: 10.3390/ijms20081977.

Non-Coding RNAs as New Therapeutic Targets in the Context of Renal Fibrosis

Cynthia Van der Hauwaert  1   2 , François Glowacki  3   4 , Nicolas Pottier  5   6 , Christelle Cauffiez  7
Affiliations
Review

Non-Coding RNAs as New Therapeutic Targets in the Context of Renal Fibrosis

Cynthia Van der Hauwaert et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Fibrosis, or tissue scarring, is defined as the excessive, persistent and destructive accumulation of extracellular matrix components in response to chronic tissue injury. Renal fibrosis represents the final stage of most chronic kidney diseases and contributes to the progressive and irreversible decline in kidney function. Limited therapeutic options are available and the molecular mechanisms governing the renal fibrosis process are complex and remain poorly understood. Recently, the role of non-coding RNAs, and in particular microRNAs (miRNAs), has been described in kidney fibrosis. Seminal studies have highlighted their potential importance as new therapeutic targets and innovative diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers. This review will summarize recent scientific advances and will discuss potential clinical applications as well as future research directions.

Keywords: biomarkers; long non-coding RNAs; microRNAs; non-coding RNAs; renal fibrosis; therapeutics targets.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Classification and function of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Classification of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) according to their genomic location. (a) Intergenic lncRNAs are located between two coding genes; (b) intronic lncRNAs are transcribed entirely from introns of protein-coding genes; (c) antisense lncRNAs are transcribed from the antisense strand of a coding gene and overlap at least one exon; (d) bidirectional lncRNAs are localized within 1 kb of the promoter of a coding gene and oriented in the other direction; (e) enhancer lncRNAs are located in enhancer regions associated with a coding gene. Arrows indicate the direction of transcription.
Figure 3
Figure 3
General mechanisms of non-coding RNAs involved in kidney fibrosis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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