Research progress on long non‑coding RNAs in non‑infectious spinal diseases (Review)

Spinal diseases like intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) significantly reduce patients' quality of life, and current treatments only alleviate symptoms without curing the diseases. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a role in spinal diseases like IDD, but their mechanisms are not fully understood, presenting challenges for therapeutic use. This review discusses lncRNAs' sources, classification, and functions, highlighting their involvement in spinal diseases such as IDD and their potential for treatment.

• 1
  lncRNAs are involved in the occurrence and development of spinal diseases, including IDD, ankylosing spondylitis, and spinal cord injury.
• 2
  lncRNAs can affect the synthesis and degradation of the ECM, cell death, inflammation and ageing of NP cells in IDD.
• 3
  Differentially expressed lncRNAs play a regulatory role in SCI, providing new ideas for its treatment.