Relationship between long noncoding RNAs and heart development as well as cardiovascular diseases

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are molecules often longer than 200 nt in length, which are non-protein coding genes. They play important roles in X chromosome inactivation, genomic imprinting, chromatin modification, transcriptional activation, transcription interference, and regulation of nuclear transport. Recent studies show that lncRNAs are closely related with heart development or cardiovascular diseases. Some specific lncRNAs are potential markers in the early diagnosis or treatment of cardiovascular diseases.