Immunological processes of enhancers and suppressors of long non-coding RNAs associated with brain tumors and inflammation

Abstract

Immunological processes, such as inflammation, can both cause tumor suppression and cancer progression. Moreover, deregulated levels of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression in the brain may cause inflammation and lead to the growth of tumors. Like other biological processes, the immune system’s role in cancer is complicated, varies, and can help or hurt the cancer’s maintenance. According to research, inflammation and brain cancer are correlated via several signaling pathways. A variety of lncRNAs have recently been revealed to influence cancer by modulating inflammatory pathways. As a result, lncRNAs have the potential to influence carcinogenesis, tumor formation, or tumor suppression via an increase or decrease in inflammation functions. Although the study and targeting of lncRNAs have made great progress in the treatment of cancer, there are definitely limitations and challenges. Using new technologies like nanocarriers and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) to target treatments without hurting healthy body tissues has shown to be very effective. In this review article, we have collected significantly related lncRNAs and their inhibitory or stimulating roles in inflammation and brain cancer for the first time. However, there are limitations, such as side effects and damage to normal tissues. With the advancement of new targeting technologies, these lncRNAs may be candidates for the specific targeting therapy of brain cancers by limiting inflammation or stimulating the immune system against them in the future.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Immunological processes, such as inflammation, can both cause tumor suppression and cancer progression. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression in the brain may cause inflammation and lead to the growth of tumors. LncRNAs have the potential to influence carcinogenesis, tumor formation, or tumor suppression via an increase or decrease in inflammation functions. However, there are limitations and challenges to the study and targeting of lncRNAs. New targeting technologies, such as nanocarriers and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), may be used to target brain cancer without hurting healthy body tissues.

ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Brain neoplasms
• carcinogenesis
• inflammation
• RNA long noncoding
• tumor escape
• tumor microenvironment

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the research deputy of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences for their support to write this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Table 1. The most well-known lncRNAs and their signaling pathways in brain tumors.

Table 2. LncRNAs associated with inflammation and brain tumors.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.