The long non-coding RNA uc.4 influences cell differentiation through the TGF-beta signaling pathway

Exp Mol Med. 2018 Feb 16;50(2):e447. doi: 10.1038/emm.2017.278.

Abstract

In a previous study, we screened thousands of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to assess their potential relationship with congenital heart disease (CHD). In this study, uc.4 attracted our attention because of its high level of evolutionary conservation and its antisense orientation to the CASZ1 gene, which is vital for heart development. We explored the function of uc.4 in cells and in zebrafish, and describe a potential mechanism of action. P19 cells were used to investigate the function of uc.4. We studied the effect of uc.4 overexpression on heart development in zebrafish. The overexpression of uc.4 influenced cell differentiation by inhibiting the TGF-beta signaling pathway and suppressed heart development in zebrafish, resulting in cardiac malformation. Taken together, our findings show that uc.4 is involved in heart development, thus providing a potential therapeutic target for CHD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cell Line
  • Computational Biology / methods
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Databases, Genetic
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genes, Lethal
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / genetics
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CASZ1 protein, mouse
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta