Pathogenetic significance of long non-coding RNAs in the development of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms

Abstract

Aortic aneurysm (AA) is a life-threatening condition with high prevalence and risk of severe complications. The aim of this review was to summarize the data on the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the development of aortic aneurysms of various locations. Over a less than decade of lncRNA studies in AA, using experimental and bioinformatic approaches, scientists have obtained the data confirming the involvement of these molecules in metabolic pathways and pathogenetic mechanisms critical for the development of aneurysms. Regardless of the location of the pathological process (thoracic or abdominal aorta), changes in the expression levels of various lncRNAs in the tissue of the affected vessels have been established. The consistency of changes in the expression level of lncRNA, mRNA and microRNA in aortic tissues during AA development has been recorded. Also, a number of regulatory networks those are pathogenetically significant for biochemical pathways and cellular processes have been identified, in which lncRNAs act as the competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA networks). Moreover, on the one hand, the same lncRNA can be involved in different ceRNA networks and regulate different biochemical and cellular events; on the other hand, the same pathological process is controlled by different lncRNAs. Despite some similarities in pathogenesis and the overlap of the lncRNA spectrum, identical ceRNA networks have not been described for abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms. Interactions between lncRNA and protein molecules, including those involved in epigenetic processes at other levels, have also been identified as potentially relevant to the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysm. For some lncRNAs, correlations of the expression level with clinically significant aortic features and biochemical findings AA were observed. The identification of regulatory RNAs that are functionally significant for aneurysm development is important for clarification of the disease pathogenesis and will also provide a basis for early diagnosis and development of new preventive and therapeutic drugs.