Long non-coding RNA as modulators of brain pathology: insights into cellular signaling diversity

Cancer is an enigma, and different types and subtypes add to the complexity of this disease. Innumerable molecules play important roles in glial pathogenesis. One such molecular component discovered recently and originating from the non-coding region of the human genome is the long non-coding RNA, or lncRNA. Multiple lncRNAs have been shown to play a role in tumor development in different cancer types. Although underappreciated as a therapeutic component, emerging studies have highlighted their crucial contributions to intercellular signaling. Studies suggest that lncRNAs play multiple, diverse roles in cancer cells. Their contribution to disease pathogenesis seems contrasting because the same lncRNA facilitating tumorigenesis in a particular cancer type may play a completely antagonistic role in another. In this review, we discuss multiple lncRNAs and the intracellular targets that are pertinent to glioma pathology, the sensitive expression levels, their impact on the disease progression, the pathways they affect, and their consideration as potential biomarkers for glioma. We further discuss multiple lncRNAs in the most aggressive glioma subtype, glioblastoma. Overall, we provide comprehensive information about key lncRNAs in glioma pathogenesis which could be of future fundamental and therapeutic relevance.