Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory and degenerative disease of the central nervous system of unknown aetiology although well-defined evidence supports an autoimmune pathogenesis. So far, the exact mechanisms leading to
autoimmune diseases are still only partially understood. We know that genetic, epigenetic, molecular, and cellular factors resulting in pathogenic inflammatory responses are certainly involved. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-
protein coding transcripts longer than 200
nucleotides that play an important role in both innate and acquired immunity, so there is great interest in lncRNAs involved in
autoimmune diseases. The research on
multiple sclerosis has been enriched with many studies on the molecular role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of the disease and their potential application as diagnostic and prognostic
biomarkers. In particular, many
multiple sclerosis fields of research are based on the identification of lncRNAs as possible
biomarkers able to predict the onset of the disease, its activity degree, its progression phase and the response to disease-modifying drugs. Last but not least, studies on lncRNAs can provide a new molecular target for new
therapies, missing, so far, a cure for
multiple sclerosis. While our knowledge on the role of
lncRNA in
multiple sclerosis has recently improved, further studies are required to better understand the specific role of lncRNAs in this neurological disease. In this review, we present the most recent studies on molecular characterization of lncRNAs in
multiple sclerosis disorder discussing their clinical relevance as
biomarkers for diagnosis and treatments.