LncRNAs: key players and novel insights into diabetes mellitus

// Xiaoyun He 1, 2, * , Chunlin Ou 3, * , Yanhua Xiao 1 , Qing Han 1 , Hao Li 4 and Suxian Zhou 1 1 Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China 2 Department of Endocrinology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China 3 Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China 4 Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China * These authors contributed equally to this work and share co-first authors Correspondence to: Suxian Zhou, email: zoe_doctor@163.com Keywords: LncRNAs, diabetes mellitus, pancreatic β cells, insulin resistance, epigenetic regulation Received: March 29, 2017      Accepted: July 19, 2017      Published: August 04, 2017 ABSTRACT Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are a class of endogenous RNA molecules, which have a transcribing length of over 200 nt, lack a complete functional open reading frame (ORF), and rarely encode a functional short peptide. Recent studies have revealed that disruption of LncRNAs levels correlates with several human diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM), a complex multifactorial metabolic disorder affecting more than 400 million people worldwide. LncRNAs are emerging as pivotal regulators in various biological processes, in the progression of DM and its associated complications, involving pancreatic β-cell disorder, insulin resistance, and epigenetic regulation, etc . Further investigation into the mechanisms of action of LncRNAs in DM will be of great value in the thorough understanding of pathogenesis. However, prior to successful application of LncRNAs, further search for molecular biomarkers and drug targets to provide a new strategy for DM prevention, early diagnosis, and therapy is warranted.