Frontiers in Immunology (Nov 2021)

Emerging Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Regulation of T-Lymphocyte Function

  • Mohammad Taheri,
  • Dominik A. Barth,
  • Julia Kargl,
  • Omidvar Rezaei,
  • Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard,
  • Martin Pichler,
  • Martin Pichler

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.756042
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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T-lymphocytes (T cells) play a major role in adaptive immunity and current immune checkpoint inhibitor-based cancer treatments. The regulation of their function is complex, and in addition to cytokines, receptors and transcription factors, several non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been shown to affect differentiation and function of T cells. Among these non-coding RNAs, certain small microRNAs (miRNAs) including miR-15a/16-1, miR-125b-5p, miR-99a-5p, miR-128-3p, let-7 family, miR-210, miR-182-5p, miR-181, miR-155 and miR-10a have been well recognized. Meanwhile, IFNG-AS1, lnc-ITSN1-2, lncRNA-CD160, NEAT1, MEG3, GAS5, NKILA, lnc-EGFR and PVT1 are among long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that efficiently influence the function of T cells. Recent studies have underscored the effects of a number of circular RNAs, namely circ_0001806, hsa_circ_0045272, hsa_circ_0012919, hsa_circ_0005519 and circHIPK3 in the modulation of T-cell apoptosis, differentiation and secretion of cytokines. This review summarizes the latest news and regulatory roles of these ncRNAs on the function of T cells, with widespread implications on the pathophysiology of autoimmune disorders and cancer.

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