Involvement of the long noncoding RNA NEAT1 in carcinogenesis
Christiane Klec1,2, Felix Prinz1,2, Martin Pichler1,2,3
1Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz (MUG), Austria.
Abstract:
Altered expression levels of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) have been reported in different types of cancer. More than half of the NEAT1 studies in cancer have been published within the last 2 years. In this review, we discuss very recent developments and insights into NEAT1 contribution to carcinogenesis. Summarizing the literature, it becomes obvious that NEAT1 is a lncRNA highly de-/upregulated in a variety of cancer entities, in which it primarily acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) which sponges tumor-suppressive microRNA (miRNA). The sponged miRNA lose their ability to degrade, silence, or hamper translation of their downstream-mostly oncogenic-target transcripts, ultimately promoting carcinogenesis. This role of NEAT1 function in tumorigenesis suggests it may be a prognostic biomarker as well as potential therapeutic target, pending the completion of further studies into the underlying mechanisms.
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