A novel long non-coding RNA, lnc-RNU12, influences the T-cell cycle via c-JUN and CCNL2 in rheumatoid arthritis.

This article focuses on the characterization of a novel long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) named lnc-RNU12 and its role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study found that lnc-RNU12 is downregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and T cell subtypes of RA patients, with its low expression linked to immune activation and genetic risk factors for RA. Functional experiments demonstrated that lnc-RNU12 influences the T cell cycle by targeting two protein-coding genes, c-JUN and CCNL2, which are involved in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. Additionally, lnc-RNU12 mediates the effect of microbiome alterations on RA risk, suggesting it acts as a molecular link between environmental and genetic factors in RA development. These findings provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of RA and highlight lnc-RNU12 as a potential target for future therapeutic research.