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Long noncoding RNAs in regulating adipogenesis: new RNAs shed lights on obesity

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Abstract

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are an emerging class of regulators involved in a myriad of biological processes. Recent studies have revealed that many lncRNAs play pivotal roles in regulating adipocyte development. Due to the prevalence of obesity and the serious effects of adiposity on human health and society development, it is necessary to summarize functions and recent advances of lncRNAs in adipogenesis. In this review, we highlight functional lncRNAs contributed to the regulation of adipogenesis, discussing their potential use as therapeutic targets to combat human obesity.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31501930), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (KYZ201414, KJQN201606), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China (BK20150656), and the National Key Technology Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2015BAD03B01).

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Correspondence to Lifan Zhang or Michael V. Dodson.

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Wei, S., Du, M., Jiang, Z. et al. Long noncoding RNAs in regulating adipogenesis: new RNAs shed lights on obesity. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 73, 2079–2087 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-016-2169-2

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