Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are critical regulators of gene expression, taking part in the modulation of multiple biological functions across a range of cell types. Initially dismissed as transcriptional noise, ncRNAs are now recognized for their significant roles in key cellular mechanisms, including differentiation, apoptosis, and proliferation, as well as their profound implications for the pathogenesis of numerous human diseases. Due to their remarkable stability, tissue-specific expression patterns, and abundance in body fluids, ncRNAs hold significant promise as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring. Furthermore, advances in RNA-targeted therapeutics have introduced novel strategies to modulate ncRNA activity, although challenges related to delivery efficiency, specificity, and clinical validation remain. This review comprehensively summarizes the classification, biogenesis, and molecular functions of ncRNAs, elucidates their involvement in health and disease, and evaluates their potential as clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Additionally, it discusses the emerging technologies for RNA manipulation, including CRISPR-based RNA editing, that can advance ncRNA research and revolutionize ncRNA-based therapeutics.
Diamantopoulos et al. (2025) studied this question.