A Long Journey Ahead: Long Non-coding RNAs in Bacterial Infections

Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2017 Mar 28:7:95. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00095. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Bacterial pathogens have coevolved with their hosts and acquired strategies to circumvent defense mechanisms of host cells. It was shown that bacteria interfere with the expression of mammalian microRNAs to modify immune signaling, autophagy, or the apoptotic machinery. Recently, a new class of regulatory RNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), was reported to have a pivotal role in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. A growing body of literature reports on specific involvement of lncRNAs in the host cell response toward bacterial infections. This mini review summarizes recent data that focuses on lncRNA function in host cells during bacterial infection and provides a perspective where future research in this regard may be going.

Keywords: bacterial infection; epigenetic regulation of gene expression; host-pathogen interaction; immunity; long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs).

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Autophagy
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / pathogenicity*
  • Bacterial Infections / immunology*
  • Bacterial Infections / metabolism
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / immunology
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Long Noncoding