Emerging Roles of Non-coding RNAs in the Regulation of Lipid Metabolism in Podocytes

J Lipid Res. 2026 Nov 13:101188. doi: 10.1016/j.jlr.2026.101188. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Podocytes, the primary constituent of the glomerular filtration barrier, play critical roles in maintaining glomerular homeostasis. Disruption of lipid metabolism is closely associated with podocyte injury. Emerging evidences indicate non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are involved in regulating lipid metabolism in podocytes. However, an integrated review of the role of ncRNAs in this context is still lacking. Herein, we summarized the recent advances in understanding the key role of ncRNAs in modulating lipid metabolism in podocytes. We reviewed the fundamental mechanisms of lipid metabolism in podocytes, encompassing cholesterol uptake, efflux, synthesis, and oxidation, and their implications for cellular health and injury. Moreover, we systematically summarized the classification of ncRNAs-including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs)-that have been implicated in the dysregulation of podocyte lipid metabolism, discussing their specific target genes and signaling pathways. We further discuss the promising potential of these ncRNAs as novel diagnostic biomarkers for kidney injury and explore future therapeutic strategies. This review aims to deepen the understanding of ncRNA-mediated lipid metabolic control in podocytes and to open new avenues for therapeutic intervention in proteinuric kidney diseases.

PMID:43025645 | DOI:10.1016/j.jlr.2026.101188