Long non-coding RNAs, a new important regulator of cardiovascular physiology and pathology

- LncRNAs are important regulators of cellular biological regulatory network rather than simple products of gene expression.
- LncRNAs regulate gene expression at the epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
- LncRNAs play an essential role in regulating the process of development and cardiovascular physiological function.
- LncRNAs will be a novel therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases.
- LncRNAs in the plasma as a new diagnostic biomarker for cardiovascular diseases

LncRNAs were previously considered to be the 'noise' of gene transcription having no biological functions, but now it has become evident that lncRNAs function as modulators of gene expression network. LncRNAs may regulate diverse gene expression levels which were roughly summarized to epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. It has been clarified that some lncRNAs were expressed differentially in cardiovascular diseases, and aberrant changes of those lncRNAs were involved in the development of heart disorders. The role of lncRNAs in this process transcended the tradition of protein regulatory platform to be the orchestrator of cardiac sophisticated governing system of heart development, adaptation and pathological reaction. This review summarizes recent advances in the study of functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs in cardiovascular physiology and pathology. The regulatory roles of lncRNAs in cardiovascular diseases provide new strategy for interventional therapy of heart diseases.