Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
07:23
Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells
Published on: May 30, 2025
The H19 non-coding RNA is essential for human tumor growth
Imad J Matouk1, Nathan DeGroot, Shaul Mezan
1Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
Plos One
|September 6, 2007
Summary
The H19 gene acts as an oncogene, promoting tumor growth and metastasis in liver cancer and bladder carcinoma. Targeting H19 offers a potential new strategy for anti-tumor therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Non-coding RNA research
Background:
- Growth factor pathways and epigenetic alterations drive carcinogenesis.
- Non-coding RNAs, like H19, regulate gene expression.
- H19 is re-activated in tumorigenesis and highly expressed in liver metastasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of H19 in carcinogenesis.
- To determine H19 as a potential anti-tumor target.
Main Methods:
- Studied H19 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and bladder carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.
- Manipulated oxygen pressure and H19 levels.
- Performed H19 knockdown and ectopic expression experiments.
Main Results:
- Hypoxia upregulates H19 RNA levels.
- H19 knockdown reduced tumorigenicity and anchorage-independent growth.
- Ectopic H19 expression enhanced tumorigenic potential.
- H19 knockdown diminished p57(kip2) induction under hypoxia.
- Identified angiogenin and FGF18 as potential H19 targets.
Conclusions:
- H19 RNA exhibits pro-tumorigenic properties.
- The H19 gene functions as an oncogene.
- H19 represents a potential target for anti-tumor therapy.
Related Concept Videos
02:39lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)...
02:39lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)...
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:12Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
01:12Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...