LncRNA H19-mediated mouse cleft palate induced by all-trans retinoic acid

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are the new class of transcripts and pervasively transcribed in the genome, which have been found to play important functional roles in many tissues and organs. LncRNAs can interact with target gene to exert their functions. However, the function and mechanism of lncRNA in cleft palate (CP) development remain elusive. Here, we investigated the role of lncRNA H19 and its target gene insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) in CP of mice. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA) is a well-known teratogenic effecter of CP. After establishment of the CP mouse model using atRA in vivo, we found that the rate of CP in mice was 100%. The tail lengths of fetuses in atRA-treated mice were shorter than those of control mice from embryonic day (E)12 to E17. The expression of lncRNA H19 and IGF2 were embryo age-related differences between atRNA-treated and control mice. In addition, the the relationship between lncRNA H19 and IGF2 were negative correlation in the critical period of developmental palate. These findings suggest that lncRNA H19 mediate atRA-induced CP in mice.