Abstract
Cellular stress can occur in many forms; oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), metabolic stress from increased metabolic programs and genotoxic stress in the form of DNA damage and disrepair. In most instances, these different types of cell stress initiate programmed cell death. However, in cancer, cells are able to resist cellular stress and by-pass growth limiting checkpoints. Recent findings have now revealed that the large and heterogenous RNA species known as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are major players in regulating and overcoming cancer cell stress. lncRNAs constitute a significant fraction of the genes differentially expressed in response to cell stress and contribute to the management of downstream cellular processes, including the regulation of key stress responses such as metabolic stress, oxidative stress and genotoxic stress. This review highlights the complex regulatory role of lncRNAs in the cell stress response of cancer by providing an overview of key examples from recent literature.
Highlights
When the first draft of the Human Genome Project was completed in 2001 it came as a major surprise that protein-coding genes accounted for as little as 1–2% of the human genome [1]
A key feature of cancer cells is their ability overcome environmental stresses including but not limited to hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, and exposure to DNA-damaging agents [16]. To survive these stressful conditions, cancer cells utilize the hallmarks of cancer and alter gene expression, reprogram metabolic pathways and evade growth inhibition signaling. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in both positively and negatively regulating, metabolic stress, oxidative stress and genotoxic stress of cancer cells (Table 1) as well as an appreciable number of cancer-related cell signaling pathways [35]
Some lncRNAs are able to act as oncogenes and enable cells to overcome metabolic stress loads through promoting the expression of key genes that facilitate metabolic plasticity
Summary
When the first draft of the Human Genome Project was completed in 2001 it came as a major surprise that protein-coding genes accounted for as little as 1–2% of the human genome [1]. It is appreciated that most of the genome, while non-protein coding, is transcribed into RNA and these transcripts appear to be functionally different RNA species [2]. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), loosely described as nonprotein-coding transcripts of >200 nucleotides, are a diverse group of RNA molecules which have been discovered to promote and inhibit gene expression via a variety of mechanisms [4]. Considerable research has shown that lncRNAs are important regulators of the cellular stress response and thereby implicated in the maintenance of human cancer. The aim of this review is to highlight some of the recent key developments for the role of lncRNAs in cellular stress in cancer
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
