HULC and diabetic cardiomyopathy: Although the lncRNAs WISPER (Wisp2 super-enhancer-associated RNA), HULC (Highly upregulated in liver cancer), and ZFAS1 (ZNFX Antisense RNA 1) have not been extensively examined in the context of DR, these critical lncRNAs are pathologically involved in the development of cardiac fibrosis (16), metastatic progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (48), and diabetic cardiomyopathy (17), respectively.