Introduction
Since non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) without the ability to encode proteins, they were long ignored as “noise” for a long time. We have only recently realized the critical function ncRNAs play in the gene transcription and translation process. Only about 2% of human genes have protein‐coding potential, the remaining 98% known as non-coding RNAs, mainly include mainly include ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), ribozymes, small nuclear RNA (snRNA), small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA), microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNA (circRNAs) [1] .The newly technologies such as high-throughput sequencing (HTS) made it possible to detect RNA’s structure and expression, biological functions, and interactions of RNA-RNA, RNA-DNA, and RNA-protein with high sensitivity and accuracy. To further comprehend their functions and molecular mechanisms, then establish the relationship with diseases of multiple species[2].
LncRNA and miRNA bind and interact with each other in variety ways, influencing downstream gene expression. Increasing evidences shows that RNA-RNA interactions, especially lncRNA-miRNA interactions, are crucial for gene expression in physiological and pathological processes. Furthermore, lncRNA and miRNA, which are expressed in all kinds of diseases and are involved in gene regulation, cellular metabolic process, may be ideal biomarkers or therapeutic targets in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer[3].
The regulation of immune response, cell proliferation and apoptosis, cell differentiation and polarization, and cytokine secretion are all influenced by lncRNA-miRNA interactions, which also play a significant role in the developing, advancing, and complications of lung diseases. In this review, we summarize several potential regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA-miRNA interactions: 1) lncRNA represses miRNA expression; 2) ceRNA mechanism; 3) miRNA negatively regulates lncRNA; 4) lncRNA and miRNA mutually repress each other; 5) LncRNA co-expresses with miRNA as a primary-miRNA. Based on these mechanisms, the latest studies are reviewed to reveal how lncRNA-miRNA interactions in relation to the six prevalent lung diseases: pneumonia, COPD, lung tumors, asthma, ARDS, and pulmonary fibrosis.