Non-coding RNAs have distinct regulatory roles in the pathogenesis of joint diseases including osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As the amount of high-throughput profiling studies and mechanistic investigations of microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs in joint tissues and biofluids has increased, data have emerged that suggest complex interactions among non-coding RNAs that are often overlooked as critical regulators of gene expression. Identifying these non-coding RNAs and their interactions is useful for understanding both joint health and disease. Non-coding RNAs regulate signalling pathways and biological processes that are important for normal joint development but, when dysregulated, can contribute to disease. The specific expression profiles of non-coding RNAs in various disease states support their roles as promising candidate biomarkers, mediators of pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. This Review synthesizes literature published in the past 2 years on the role of non-coding RNAs in OA and RA with a focus on inflammation, cell death, cell proliferation and extracellular matrix dysregulation. Research to date makes it apparent that ‘non-coding’ does not mean ‘non-essential’ and that non-coding RNAs are important parts of a complex interactome that underlies OA and RA.

非编码 RNA 在骨关节炎 (OA) 和类风湿关节炎 (RA) 等关节疾病的发病机制中具有独特的调节作用。随着关节组织和生物体液中 microRNA、长链非编码 RNA 和环状 RNA 的高通量分析研究和机制研究数量的增加，出现的数据表明非编码 RNA 之间存在复杂的相互作用，而这些非编码 RNA 作为关键调节剂常常被忽视的基因表达。识别这些非编码 RNA 及其相互作用有助于了解关节健康和疾病。非编码 RNA 调节对正常关节发育很重要的信号通路和生物过程，但当失调时，会导致疾病。非编码 RNA 在各种疾病状态下的特异性表达谱支持它们作为有希望的候选生物标志物、致病机制的介质和潜在治疗靶点的作用。本综述综合了过去 2 年发表的关于非编码 RNA 在 OA 和 RA 中的作用的文献，重点关注炎症、细胞死亡、细胞增殖和细胞外基质失调。迄今为止的研究表明，“非编码”并不意味着“非必需”，非编码 RNA 是构成 OA 和 RA 基础的复杂相互作用组的重要组成部分。细胞增殖和细胞外基质失调。迄今为止的研究表明，“非编码”并不意味着“非必需”，非编码 RNA 是构成 OA 和 RA 基础的复杂相互作用组的重要组成部分。细胞增殖和细胞外基质失调。迄今为止的研究表明，“非编码”并不意味着“非必需”，非编码 RNA 是构成 OA 和 RA 基础的复杂相互作用组的重要组成部分。