Dynamic role of long noncoding RNA in liver diseases: pathogenesis and diagnostic aspects

Liver disease (LD) is complex pathological condition that has emerged as a major threat to human health and the quality of life. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of LD have not yet been fully elucidated. Recently, a large amount of evidence has shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in diverse biological processes in the liver. The dysregulation of lncRNAs in the liver, for example, can affect tumor proliferation, migration, and invasion, contribute to hepatic metabolism disorder of lipid and glucose, and shape of hepatic tumoral microenvironment. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the functional roles of lncRNAs in LD pathogenesis may provide new perspectives for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools. In the present review, we summarize the current findings on the relationship between lncRNAs and LD, including the modes of action of lncRNAs, the biological significance of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of LD, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well as in some non-neoplastic disorders, and the potential use of lncRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for LD.