APOBEC3B expression is promoted by lincNMR collaborating with TGF-β-Smad pathway.

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Cancer Research
• Epigenetics

Background:

• Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in cancer development and progression.
• Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling plays a critical role in cellular processes, including cancer.
• The precise regulatory mechanisms of APOBEC3B, a gene associated with cancer progression, remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify lncRNAs regulated by TGF-β.
• To investigate the role of lincNMR in regulating APOBEC3B expression.
• To explore the clinical significance of lincNMR and APOBEC3B in human cancers.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive RNA sequencing to identify TGF-β-regulated lncRNAs.
• Smad2/3 depletion experiments to assess TGF-β pathway involvement.
• RNA immunoprecipitation assays to confirm lincNMR-Smad2 interaction.
• Promoter activity assays to evaluate APOBEC3B regulation by lincNMR.

Main Results:

• lincNMR (MAP3K9-DT) is induced by TGF-β in various cell lines via the TGF-β-Smad pathway.
• lincNMR directly binds to Smad2 and enhances APOBEC3B promoter activity.
• lincNMR and APOBEC3B are co-expressed and associated with poor prognosis in hepatic and lung cancers.

Conclusions:

• lincNMR is a novel TGF-β-regulated lncRNA that promotes cancer malignancy.
• lincNMR contributes to tumor progression by upregulating APOBEC3B expression.
• lincNMR and APOBEC3B represent potential biomarkers for cancer prognosis.