This book brings together what is currently known in terms of basic research in the field of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and builds on this to delve more deeply in the specific roles that lncRNAs are playing during inflammation. The book provides readers with basic knowledge on lncRNAs: from understanding the complexity of the transcriptome, conservation, structure and the tools used to investigate these aspects, to how we use this information to study lncRNAs in a specific biological context. The volume covers the emerging roles of lncRNAs in the initial stages of inflammation as well as their roles in specific inflammatory diseases including arthritis, lupus, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The book also shows the emerging interest in using lncRNAs as a therapeutic target and how this could impact our ability to diagnose and treat inflammatory diseases in the future.

Autorentext

Susan Carpenter is an assistant professor of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology at UC Santa Cruz.

Susan's lab focuses on understanding the complex molecular mechanisms that control the body's essential protection against infection. Any perturbation to these mechanisms can have devastating consequences and result in inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Recent evidence shows that a group of RNA molecules known as long noncoding RNA or lncRNA plays important roles in diverse biological functions, including the inflammatory response. They are studying lncRNAs to gain an understanding of their function within the immune system, which could lead to insight into human disease and perhaps novel targets for therapeutic intervention for inflammatory conditions

Susan earned her PhD in Biochemistry from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, studying novel proteins important within innate immune signaling pathways, working under the supervision of Professor Luke O'Neill. Her post-doctoral research with Prof. Kate Fitzgerald at UMASS medical school continued in this area, and there she focused her attention on the role of lncRNA in inflammatory signaling pathways. Since her research bridges the fields of immunology and RNA biology, she also took the opportunity to work at UCSF in the laboratory of Dr. Michael McManus, who is a pioneer in high throughput technologies. There she worked on developing high throughput genomic approaches to study lncRNAs important for human innate immune signaling in host defense mechanisms.

Inhalt

Section 1: Overview

Chapter 1: Introduction and overview

Section 2: Basics of long noncoding RNA Classifications and functions

Chapter 2: The Complexity of the Mammalian Transcriptome

Chapter 3: Towards molecular mechanism in long non-coding RNAs: linking structure and function

Section 3: Long noncoding RNA and inflammation

Chapter 4: Long noncoding RNAs in Rheumatology

Chapter 5: LncRNA and Cardiovascular Disease

Chapter 6: A role for lncRNAs in regulating inflammatory and autoimmune responses underlying type 1 diabetes

Section 4: Long noncoding RNAs as Therapeutic targets

Chapter 7: LncRNA Biomarkers of Inflammation and Cancer

Chapter 8: Functional Implications of Intergenic GWAS SNPs in Immune Related lncRNAs

Chapter 9: Long noncoding RNAs as Therapeutic Targets

Section 5: Challenges and Future Directions

Chapter 10: Challenges and future directions for LncRNAs and inflammation