Noncoding RNA as a crucial epigenetic modulator in the degeneration of the ligamentum flavum

Abstract

Ligamentum flavum degeneration, including hypertrophy and ossification of the ligamentum flavum, leads to degenerative spinal stenosis in older adults. However, the underlying mechanisms of ligamentum flavum degeneration remain unclear, and therapeutic strategies are limited. Noncoding RNAs include microRNAs, circular RNAs, and long noncoding RNAs. As important epigenetic modifications, noncoding RNAs are involved in the progression of several age-related diseases, including ligamentum flavum degeneration. Previous studies have shown that noncoding RNAs can regulate the osteogenic differentiation and fibrosis of ligamentum flavum cells by regulating the expression of related genes. In this review, we discuss noncoding RNAs and their role in ligamentum flavum degeneration. Degenerative Spinal Stenosis (DSS), a common condition in older adults causing numbness and muscle weakness, is often caused by the breakdown of the ligamentum flavum, a spinal structure. Despite DSS’s commonness, the role of non-coding RNAs, molecules that don’t code for proteins but regulate gene activity, in LF breakdown is not well understood. Researchers reviewed the biological functions of ncRNAs in LF breakdown, focusing on microRNAs, circular RNAs, and long non-coding RNAs, aiming to provide new insights. They identified specific ncRNAs contributing to LF degeneration, suggesting their potential as treatment targets. This research could guide future studies towards non-surgical treatments for DSS. The findings reveal that manipulating these ncRNAs could offer new treatment options. This could lead to targeted therapies addressing DSS’s underlying causes, offering hope for less invasive treatments in the future. This summary was initially drafted using artificial intelligence, then revised and fact-checked by the author.