Multifactorial role of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in hematopoiesis

Human genome project unveiled that only 1.5.-2.0.% of the genome is protein coding. ENCODE and related studies showed that most part of the genome transcribed into RNAs, and most of them do not code for a functional proteins, hence the name non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). ncRNAs are small ncRNAs (less than 200 nucleotides) and long ncRNAs (longer than 200 nucleotides up to 10 kb). They act as a direct link between highly ordered chromosome structures, gene expression and serve as a bridge between genome and chromatin modification complexes as guides, scaffolds, and decoys. Highly regulated hematopoietic differentiation is required for formation of all types of blood cells. Among a variety of lncRNAs only few hematopoitic lncRNAs have been studied extensivelyand most of them are not functionally characterized. The role of these lncRNAs remains partially undetermined but their involvement in the regulation of various genes and protein synthesis has been proved even in hematopoiesis. So, the present review is a mere effort to highlight the role of lncRNAs involved in the development and regulation of hematopoiesis.