Evolving understandings for the roles of non-coding RNAs in autoimmunity and autoimmune disease

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are characterized by aberrant generation of autoreactive immune cells and persistent inflammation, leading to tissue destruction. Although common definitive pathogenesis mechanisms of ADs remain elusive, increasing recent evidence has found that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are extensively involved in ADs and AD-related immune responses. Recent advances in the comprehension of biological functions of ncRNAs have greatly evolved the understandings of epigenetic regulation of autoimmunity and ADs. In general, ncRNAs are involved in proliferation, activation, differentiation, apoptosis, and functions of immune cells, promoting or inhibiting immune responses through multiple pathways. Aberrant expression of ncRNAs in immune cells dysregulates immune homeostasis, and has been implicated in a variety of ADs. Therefore, these ncRNAs are promising biomarkers of AD diagnosis and potential therapeutic targets for AD treatment. Clarification of the critical functions and mechanisms for ncRNAs may provide insights into understanding AD pathogenesis and treatment. In this review, we focus on recent studies on the involvement of ncRNAs in autoimmunity and ADs.