Non-Coding RNAs in Airway Diseases: A Brief Overview of Recent Data

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Nc-RNA are microRNA, long-coding RNA, and circulating-RNA. In this review we report most recent data regarding the role of nc-RNA in airway diseases, with a particular attention to microRNA. They are short, endogenously initiated non-coding RNAs involved in post-transcriptionally control gene expression via either translational repression or mRNA degradation. MiRNAs play significant roles in control of cell mechanisms involved in developmental timing and host-pathogen interactions as well as cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. Today the knowledge of the functions of the micro-RNA are of fundamental importance to define the subtypes of inflammatory diseases of the lung and to understand the effectiveness of the treatment. ABSTRACT: Inflammation of the human lung is mediated in response to different stimuli (e.g., physical, radioactive, infective, pro-allergenic, or toxic) such as cigarette smoke and environmental pollutants. These stimuli often promote an increase in different inflammatory activities in the airways, manifesting themselves as chronic diseases (e.g., allergic airway diseases, asthma chronic bronchitis/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or even lung cancer). Non-coding RNA (ncRNAs) are single-stranded RNA molecules of few nucleotides that regulate the gene expression involved in many cellular processes. ncRNA are molecules typically involved in the reduction of translation and stability of the genes of mRNAs s. They regulate many biological aspects such as cellular growth, proliferation, differentiation, regulation of cell cycle, aging, apoptosis, metabolism, and neuronal patterning, and influence a wide range of biologic processes essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. The relevance of ncRNAs in the pathogenetic mechanisms of respiratory diseases has been widely established and in the last decade many papers were published. However, once their importance is established in pathogenetic mechanisms, it becomes important to further deepen the research in this direction. In this review we describe several of most recent knowledge concerning ncRNA (overall miRNAs) expression and activities in the lung.