It was previously revealed that noncoding RNAs, especially microRNAs, control cardiac genes and regulate heart function.Recently, growing evidence from high-throughput genomic platforms has confirmed that long non-coding RNAs ( lncRNAs) serve as new and enigmatic regulators in cardiac development and homeostasis.Nevertheless, lit-tle is known about their characteristics compared to microRNAs.Here, we review the latest progress on lncRNAs in cardiac biology and diseases, summarizing detailed knowledge of their functions and novel cardiac-related gene regulatory mecha-nisms in epigenetic processes.Finally, we highlight that lncRNAs could be promising therapeutic targets and diagnostic bi-omarkers in cardiac pathophysiology.

作者：杨翔宇；余细勇

来源：中国病理生理杂志 2015 年 11期