Research progress on long noncoding RNA of autoimmune diseases

The long noncoding RNAs refers to RNA transcripts more than 200 nucleotides in length, and do not encode proteins. In the end of the 20th century, the lncRNAs were found to play crucial role in many important biological processes, including embryonic development, cell differentiation, species evolution, metabolism, and disease occurrence by the scientific community. Currently, multiple studies have indicated that long noncoding RNAs have participated in rheumatic diseases, immune response, immune cell differentiation, and dynamic balance of the immune system. Therefore, summary of the roles of lncRNAs in rheumatic diseases could be beneficial to understand the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. This review article attempts to highlight the recent progresses regarding lncRNAs studies and the relationship between long noncoding RNA and rheumatic diseases by taking systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis and other typical diseases as examples. Key words: RNA; Rheumatic diseases; Review