Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most widespread and aggressive subtype of glioma in adult patients. Numerous long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are deregulated or differentially expressed in GBM. These lncRNAs possess unique regulatory functions in GBM cells, ranging from high invasion/ migration to recurrence. This review outlines the present status of specific involvement of lncRNAs in GBM pathogenesis, with a focus on their association with key molecular and cellular regulatory mechanisms. Also, we highlighted the potential of different novel RNA-based strategies that may be beneficial for therapeutic purposes.
lncRNAsDepending on the genomic location and with respect to neighboring protein-coding genes, lncRNAs can be sense, antisense, intronic, intergenic, and bidirectional. Sense and antisense are transcribed in the same or opposite direction of protein-coding gene strands. Bidirectional lncRNAs are transcribed in the opposite direction of their neighboring protein-coding gene (<1 kb away). Intronic lncRNAs are transcribed completely from the introns of the protein-coding gene, while intergenic lncRNAs are transcribed from different genomic locations. 10 The activity of lncRNAs depends on its subcellular localization, allowing division of lncRNAs into nuclear or cytoplasmic subgroups. 11 A gene transcriptional status can be regulated by transcriptional interference and chromatin remodeling acquired from lncRNA located in the nuclear region. 12,13 In contrast, lncRNAs that are exported to the cytoplasm serve as mediators for RNA processing and can affect mRNA stability or regulate protein function. 14 lncRNAs can interact with RNA, proteins, and DNA via different modes of molecular mechanisms such as signaling, decoy, guide, scaffold, and miRNA sponge. lncRNAs can function as a signaling molecule for any biological condition and are capable of regulating the expression of genes concerning a specific response; as a decoy