Molecular Mechanism of Long Non-Coding RNAs that Involves on Regulation of the Immune System and Gene Expression

Even though RNAs are often seen as connectors between DNA and proteins, transcriptome analysis reveals that only a small portion of the genome is responsible for coding proteins, while the majority is responsible for noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). Over the past decade, ncRNAs have become increasingly fascinating due to their involvement in various physiological processes. Furthermore, their malfunctioning can have significant implications for several pathologies, including viral infections and antiviral responses. LncRNAs, which are RNA molecules larger than 200 bp, are unable to produce proteins. Numerous studies have shown that lncRNAs play a crucial role in immune and transcription regulation. Specifically, these lncRNAs have the potential to influence innate and adaptive immune responses, impacting immune system regulation at different levels of gene expression through various physiologically relevant interactions such as RNA-DNA, RNA-protein, and RNA-DNA interactions. LncRNAs are found in various immune cells, including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, T cells, and B cells. Although they have been shown to be involved in a range of natural processes, such as gene expression regulation, dosage compensation, and genomic imprinting, there is still limited understanding of how lncRNAs are controlled and how they contribute to cell differentiation and function. This review aims to provide an overview of the functional advancements and action mechanisms of lncRNAs in immune regulation and gene expression, specifically focusing on the molecular mechanisms involved.