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Review
. 2023 Jul 5;11(7):1905.
doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11071905.

Role of Macrophage lncRNAs in Mediating Inflammatory Processes in Atherosclerosis and Sepsis

Hyeung-Seob Shin  1 , Jae-Joon Shin  1 , Jeongkwang Park  1 , Imene Arab  1 , Kyoungho Suk  2 , Won-Ha Lee  1
Affiliations
Review

Role of Macrophage lncRNAs in Mediating Inflammatory Processes in Atherosclerosis and Sepsis

Hyeung-Seob Shin et al. Biomedicines. .

Abstract

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are molecules >200 bases in length without protein-coding functions implicated in signal transduction and gene expression regulation via interaction with proteins or RNAs, exhibiting various functions. The expression of lncRNAs has been detected in many cell types, including macrophages, a type of immune cell involved in acute and chronic inflammation, removal of dead or damaged cells, and tissue repair. Increasing evidence indicates that lncRNAs play essential roles in macrophage functions and disease development. Additionally, many animal studies have reported that blockage or modulation of lncRNA functions alleviates disease severity or morbidity rate. The present review summarizes the current knowledge regarding lncRNAs expressed in macrophages, focusing on their molecular targets and the biological processes regulated by them during the development of inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and sepsis. Possible application of this information to lncRNA-targeting therapy is also discussed. The studies regarding macrophage lncRNAs described in this review can help provide valuable information for developing treatments for various pathological conditions involving macrophages.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; inflammation; lncRNA; macrophage; sepsis; therapeutic targets.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Action mechanisms of macrophage lncRNAs involved in atherogenesis. These lncRNAs affect various cellular processes that ultimately regulate inflammation, lipid accumulation, and foam cell formation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
An overview of macrophage lncRNAs involved in atherosclerosis development. LncRNAs exert their functions through both direct and indirect mechanisms. Certain lncRNAs act as miRNA sponges, indirectly regulating protein expression by inhibiting miRNA function. In contrast, other lncRNAs directly interact with proteins to modulate their activity. Additionally, some lncRNAs can regulate gene expression through epigenetic modifications. Within the figures, arrows are employed to indicate the molecule responsible for activating or inhibiting its specific target.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Action mechanisms of macrophage lncRNAs involved in sepsis development. Most of these lncRNAs are involved in LPS-induced inflammatory activation and subsequent M1 polarization and proliferation of macrophages.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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