UCLA

Atherosclerosis is a complex and chronic disease characterized by lipid deposition in the vessel wall that leads to an inflammatory and proliferative cascade involving smooth muscle, endothelial, and immune cells. Despite substantial improvements in our understanding of mechanisms contributing to atherosclerosis and overall reduction in cardiovascular mortality, the absolute disease burden remains substantially high. The recent discovery of a new group of mediators known as long noncoding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) offers a unique opportunity for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools in atherothrombotic disease. A number of studies suggest that lncRNAs are important mediators in health and disease, and rapidly accumulating evidence implicates lncRNAs in regulatory circuits controlling atherosclerosis. In this review, the authors outline important contributions of lncRNAs to atherosclerosis and its associated risk factors, including hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.