The lncRNA DCM-related factor (DCRF) is associated with the development of DCM and regulates autophagy by acting as the ceRNA of miR-551b-5p; here, DCFR binds to miR-551b-5p to upregulate protocadherin-17 (PCDH17) that increases autophagy and has been reported to aggravate heart diseases (Feng et al., 2019). This evidence concerns the gene PCDH17 and familial dilated cardiomyopathy.