LncCeRBase: a database of experimentally validated human competing endogenous long non-coding RNAs

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are endogenous molecules longer than 200 nucleotides, and lack coding potential. LncRNAs that interact with microRNAs (miRNAs) are known as a competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and have the ability to regulate the expression of target genes. The ceRNAs play an important role in the initiation and progression of various cancers. However, until now, there is no a database including a collection of experimentally verified, human ceRNAs. We developed the LncCeRBase database, which encompasses 432 lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA interactions, including 130 lncRNAs, 214 miRNAs and 245 genes from 300 publications. In addition, we compiled the signaling pathways associated with the included lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA interactions as a tool to explore their functions. LncCeRBase is useful for understanding the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA.