Long non-coding RNAs in the regulation of inflammatory pathways in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Long non coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a functionally diverse family of non-coding RNAs, which have been implicated in modulating gene expression through transcription, translation and DNA epigenetic modifications. As a relatively nascent field, the number of known functional lncRNAs is currently small. However, increasing numbers of lncRNAs are now being identified as candidate regulators of inflammatory pathways that are relevant to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis joint pathology. Furthermore, several lncRNAs have been identified which are differentially expressed in osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis joint tissue.

In this review, we highlight those lncRNAs for which functional effects have been demonstrated within the major pathways associated with inflammation, including NFkB signalling, p38 MAPK pathway, arachidonic acid pathway and TLR signalling. We also highlight those lncRNAs which have been shown to be differentially expressed in inflammatory joint tissue, and are therefore strong candidates for future investigative work.

Determining the expression and functional role of lncRNAs in mediating inflammation within the joint will not only advance our understanding of the epigenetics which underlie the pathology of inflammatory joint disease, but may also ultimately aid in the identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.