Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a largely uncharacterized group of non-coding RNAs with diverse regulatory roles in various biological processes. Recent observations have elucidated the functional roles of lncRNAs in cutaneous biology, e.g. in proliferation and differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes and in cutaneous wound repair. Furthermore, the role of lncRNAs in keratinocyte-derived skin cancers is emerging, especially in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), which presents a significant burden to health care services worldwide and causes high mortality as metastatic disease. Elucidation of the functions of keratinocyte-specific lncRNAs will improve understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of epidermal disorders and skin cancers and can be exploited in development of new diagnostic and therapeutic applications for keratinocyte carcinomas. In this review, we summarize the current evidence of functionally important lncRNAs in cutaneous biology and in keratinocyte carcinomas.

长链非编码 RNA (lncRNA) 是一组很大程度上未表征的非编码 RNA，在各种生物过程中具有多种调节作用。最近的观察阐明了lncRNA在皮肤生物学中的功能作用，例如在表皮角质形成细胞的增殖和分化以及皮肤伤口修复中。此外，lncRNA 在角质形成细胞衍生的皮肤癌中的作用正在显现，特别是在皮肤鳞状细胞癌 (cSCC) 中，这给全世界的医疗保健服务带来了重大负担，并导致转移性疾病的高死亡率。阐明角质形成细胞特异性lncRNA的功能将提高对表皮疾病和皮肤癌分子发病机制的理解，并可用于开发角质形成细胞癌的新诊断和治疗应用。在这篇综述中，我们总结了皮肤生物学和角质形成细胞癌中功能重要的 lncRNA 的当前证据。