The Long Non-Coding RNA Landscape of Atherosclerotic Plaques

Abstract

Currently, cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death worldwide; therefore, atherosclerosis remains one of the most crucial public health problems. This chronic and complex disease is considered to be a result of aberrant lipid homeostasis and inflammation of the inner wall of arteries that leads to plaque development. In recent years, a specific class of non-coding RNAs that are characterised by transcript lengths longer than 200 nucleotides, called long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), has emerged. Moreover, a growing body of evidence indicates that deregulation of lncRNA expression may contribute to the development of many diseases. Despite continuous efforts in deciphering the molecular basis of atherosclerotic plaque (AP) formation, many aspects of this process remain elusive. Therefore, continuing efforts in this area should remain the highest priority in the coming years. Establishment of a standardised experimental pipeline and validation of lncRNAs as possible relevant biomarkers for cardiovascular disease would enable the translation of gathered findings into clinical practice.

Fig. 1

List of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with aberrant expression in the atherosclerotic plaque reported in this review. lncRNAs are divided according to their association with immune cells, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. ANRIL antisense ncRNA in the INK4 locus, APPAT atherosclerotic plaque pathogenesis-associated transcript, BANCR BRAF-regulated lncRNA 1, CHROME cholesterol homeostasis regulator of microRNA expression, GAS5 growth arrest-specific 5, H19 imprinted maternally expressed transcript, HOTAIR HOX transcript antisense RNA, HOTTIP HOXA transcript at the distal tip, HYMAI hydatidiform mole-associated and imprinted transcript, Linc-p21 long intergenic non-coding RNA p21, MALAT1 metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1, MIAT myocardial infarction-associated transcript, NEXN-AS1 NEXN antisense RNA 1, RNCR3 retinal non-coding RNA3, SENCR smooth muscle and endothelial enriched lncRNA, SMILR smooth muscle-induced lncRNA enhances replication