Open AccessLong non‐coding RNA s in nucleus pulposus cell function and intervertebral disc degeneration
Author(s) -
Li Zheng,
Li Xingye,
Chen Chong,
Li Shugang,
Shen Jianxiong,
Tse Gary,
Chan Matthew T. V.,
Wu William K. K.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1111/cpr.12483
Subject(s) - intervertebral disc , nucleus , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , extracellular matrix , phenotype , long non coding rna , microrna , cell , gene , rna , bioinformatics , neuroscience , genetics , anatomy
Intervertebral disc degeneration ( IDD ) is the major cause of low back pain which incurs a significant public‐health and economic burden. The aetiology of IDD is complex, with developmental, genetic, biomechanical and biochemical factors contributing to the disease development. Deregulated phenotypes of nucleus pulposus cells, including aberrant differentiation, apoptosis, proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition, are involved in the initiation and progression of IDD . Non‐coding RNA s, including long non‐coding RNA s (lnc RNA s), have recently been identified as important regulators of gene expression. Research into their roles in IDD has been very active over the past 5 years. Our review summarizes current research regarding the roles of deregulated lnc RNA s (eg, RP 11‐296A18.3, TUG 1, HCG 18) in modulating nucleus pulposus cell functions in IDD . These exciting findings suggest that specific modulation of lnc RNA s or their downstream signalling pathways might be an attractive approach for developing novel therapeutics for IDD .