Recent advances in RNA sequencing technologies helped to uncover the existence of tens of thousands of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that arise from the dark matter of the genome. These lncRNAs were originally thought to be transcriptional noise but an increasing number of studies demonstrate that these transcripts can modulate protein-coding gene expression by a wide variety of transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. The spatiotemporal regulation of lncRNA expression is particularly evident in the central nervous system, suggesting that they may directly contribute to specific brain processes, including neurogenesis and cellular homeostasis. Not surprisingly, lncRNAs are therefore gaining attention as putative novel therapeutic targets for disorders of the brain. In this review, we summarize the recent insights into the functions of lncRNAs in the brain, their role in neuronal maintenance, and their potential contribution to disease. We conclude this review by postulating how these RNA molecules can be targeted for the treatment of yet incurable neurological disorders.

中文翻译：

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从垃圾到功能：LncRNA 在 CNS 健康和疾病中的作用

RNA 测序技术的最新进展帮助揭示了数万个源自基因组暗物质的长非编码 RNA (lncRNA) 的存在。这些 lncRNA 最初被认为是转录噪声，但越来越多的研究表明，这些转录物可以通过多种转录和转录后机制调节蛋白质编码基因的表达。lncRNA 表达的时空调节在中枢神经系统中尤为明显，表明它们可能直接促进特定的大脑过程，包括神经发生和细胞稳态。毫不奇怪，lncRNA 因此作为大脑疾病的推定新治疗靶点而受到关注。在这次审查中，我们总结了最近对 lncRNA 在大脑中的功能、它们在神经元维持中的作用以及它们对疾病的潜在贡献的见解。我们通过假设如何将这些 RNA 分子靶向治疗尚未治愈的神经系统疾病来结束本综述。