Current insights into long non-coding RNAs role for insulin resistance emerging in type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications

Insulin resistance (IR) is a key factor in the development and progression of diabetes and other metabolic disorders. It occurs when insulin target tissues do not respond to normal insulin levels. Further research is needed to identify the specific mechanisms underlying IR. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) refers to non-protein coding RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides. LncRNAs play important roles in cell development, proliferation, apoptosis, and metabolism. Recent investigations suggested that lncRNAs have a significant role in the pathophysiology of metabolic disorders, including IR. Although lncRNAs have gained a lot of interest as promising and reliable biomarkers in the development and progression of a number of disease states, little is known about their clinical significance and regulatory mechanisms in relation to metabolic disorders. It has been demonstrated that various lncRNAs regulate glucose/lipid metabolism and insulin signaling such as LncRNAs H19, MEG3, GAS5, and MALAT1. The current review summarized and discussed the most recent developments on the roles and mechanisms of lncRNAs in IR after providing a brief introduction to the general characteristics of lncRNAs.