Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) mediate important epigenetic regulation in a wide range of biological processes and diseases. We applied comprehensive analyses of RNA-seq and CAGE-seq (cap analysis of gene expression and sequencing) to characterize the dynamic changes in lncRNA expression in rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) brain in four representative age groups. We identified 18 anatomically diverse lncRNA modules and 14 mRNA modules representing spatial, age, and sex specificities. Spatiotemporal- and sex-biased changes in lncRNA expression were generally higher than those observed in mRNA expression. A negative correlation between lncRNA and mRNA expression in cerebral cortex was observed and functionally validated. Our findings offer a fresh insight into spatial-, age-, and sex-biased changes in lncRNA expression in macaque brain and suggest that the changes represent a previously unappreciated regulatory system that potentially contributes to brain development and aging.

长的非编码RNA（lncRNA）在广泛的生物学过程和疾病中介导重要的表观遗传调控。我们应用了RNA-seq和CAGE-seq的综合分析（基因表达和测序的上限分析）来表征恒河猴（猕猴）中lncRNA表达的动态变化。）分为四个具有代表性的年龄段的大脑。我们确定了18种解剖学不同的lncRNA模块和14种mRNA模块，分别代表空间，年龄和性别特异性。lncRNA表达的时空和性别偏向变化通常高于mRNA表达中观察到的变化。观察到并在功能上验证了大脑皮层中lncRNA与mRNA表达之间的负相关性。我们的发现为猕猴的lncRNA表达的空间，年龄和性别偏见的变化提供了新的见解，并表明这些变化代表了以前未受重视的调节系统，可能会促进大脑的发育和衰老。