The Role of Long Non-Coding RNA in Atherosclerosis: Mechanism and Intervention of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a cardiovascular disease characterized by diverse etiological factors and complex pathological mechanisms. In recent years, the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in AS has received increasing attention. Research shows that lncRNAs regulate key biological processes involved in AS, such as vascular endothelial function, proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), macrophage polarization, and lipid metabolism, through various mechanisms, including epigenetic modification, transcriptional regulation, and post-transcriptional control. As important components of traditional medicine, Chinese herbal monomers and compounds have been found to modulate the expression of lncRNAs, thereby improving vascular endothelial function, reducing lipid deposition, and inhibiting inflammatory responses, ultimately exerting anti-atherosclerotic effects. This review systematically examines the role of lncRNAs in the disease mechanism of AS and summarizes recent advances in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) interventions targeting lncRNA expression for the treatment of AS, offering new insights and directions for the prevention and management of AS with Chinese medicine.