RMST: a long noncoding RNA involved in cancer and disease

Long non-coding RNA rhabdomyosarcoma 2-associated transcript (RMST) is a crucial regulator in various biological processes, particularly in neurogenesis and cancer progression. This review summarizes current knowledge on structure, expression patterns and functional roles across different organs and diseases of RMST. RMST exhibits tissue-specific expression, notably in brain tissues and vascular endothelial cells, and plays a significant role in neuronal differentiation through interaction with SRY-box 2. In cancer, RMST predominantly functions as a tumour suppressor, with context-dependent roles observed across different cancer types. RMST is also implicated in neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases and Hirschsprung's disease. Mechanistically, RMST acts as a competing endogenous RNA and a transcriptional regulator, interacting with various microRNAs and proteins to modulate gene expression. The potential of RMST as a biomarker and therapeutic target is increasingly recognized, particularly in atherosclerosis and cancer. While current findings are promising, further research is needed to fully elucidate the functions and translate these insights into clinical applications of RMST. This review underscores the significance of RMST in cellular processes and disease pathogenesis, highlighting its potential as a novel target for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.