The impact and role of identified long noncoding RNAs in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A narrative review

BackgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide, but its mechanism and pathophysiology remain unclear. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may exert a vital influence on regulating various biological functions in NAFLD. MethodsThe databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Medline were searched using the following keywords: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH, long noncoding RNAs, and lncRNAs. Considering the titles and abstracts, unrelated studies were excluded. The authors evaluated the full texts of the remaining studies. ResultsWe summarized the current knowledge of lncRNAs and the main signaling pathways of lncRNAs involved in NAFLD explored in recent years. As a heterogeneous group of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), lncRNAs play crucial roles in biological processes underlying the pathophysiology of NAFLD. The mechanisms, particularly those associated with the regulation of the expression and activities of lncRNAs, play important roles in NAFLD. ConclusionA better comprehension of the mechanism controlled by lncRNAs in NAFLD is necessary for the identification of novel therapeutic targets for drug development and improved, noninvasive methods for diagnosis.

Automated summary

This article summarizes the recent research progress on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), revealing the crucial regulatory roles of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Studies have shown that lncRNAs participate in the pathological and physiological processes of NAFLD through mechanisms such as regulating gene expression and activities. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms controlled by lncRNAs in NAFLD is of great significance for the identification of novel therapeutic targets and the improvement of noninvasive diagnostic methods.