Regulatory Roles of Long Non-coding RNAs in Skeletal Muscle Differentiation, Regeneration, and Disorders

In the past decade, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), including anti-sense lncRNAs, promoter-associated lncRNAs, enhancer lncRNAs, and competing endogenous lncRNAs were reported to regulate several key biological functions in skeletal muscle cells. For example, lncRNAs can regulate mRNA transcription and translation, and microRNA functions in multistep programs of skeletal muscle formation. Therefore, studies of lncRNAs in skeletal muscle cells have expanded our knowledge regarding their biological significance. Although their exact molecular functions have not yet been characterized, hundreds of novel lncRNAs from skeletal muscle cells have been elucidated. Furthermore, rapid advances in genome-editing technologies have enabled examination of the in vivo regulatory roles of lncRNAs in skeletal muscle tissues. In this chapter, we provide an overview of recent findings on the regulatory roles of lncRNAs in skeletal muscle differentiation, growth, and regeneration. In addition, we further discuss the possibility of utilizing lncRNAs as therapeutic targets for skeletal muscle disorders in humans.