Long non-coding RNA: The functional regulator of mesenchymal stem cells

Figure 2 Mesenchymal stem cells in ankylosing spondylitis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients (AS-MSCs) have lower immunoregulation ability, resulting in an imbalance between Th17 cells and Treg cells. In addition, AS-MSCs secreted more BMP2 but less Noggin, leading to their enhanced osteogenic differentiation ability. LncRNA-ZNF354A, Lin54, FRG2C and USP50 were involved in this dysfunction. The disorders of AS-MSCs resulted in chronic inflammation and pathological osteogenesis in the axial skeleton of AS patients. MSCs: Mesenchymal stem cells; AS: Ankylosing spondylitis; LncRNA: Long non-coding RNA; BMP: Bone morphogenetic protein.