The role of long non-coding RNA in the pathogenesis of aneurysms

Aneurysms are serious vascular conditions characterized by persistent dilatation of the blood vessel lumen, which can lead to rupture and become life-threatening. Their pathogenesis is complex and involves multiple biological mechanisms, including extracellular matrix degradation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), typically exceeding 200 nucleotides, perform numerous regulatory functions, including modulation of gene expression at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels. Under pathological conditions, lncRNA expression can be markedly altered. A growing body of evidence indicates that lncRNAs play a key role in regulating cellular processes such as inflammation, apoptosis, and vascular remodeling, all of which are crucial to aneurysm development and progression. This review summarizes current knowledge on the involvement of lncRNAs in aneurysm pathophysiology and highlights recent research on their impact on vascular wall degradation, inflammatory responses, and smooth muscle cell survival. A literature review was conducted through a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using keywords related to lncRNAs and biological processes relevant to aneurysm development.