Long Noncoding RNA CUDR Regulates HULC and β-Catenin to Govern Human Liver Stem Cell Malignant Differentiation

Mol Ther. 2015 Dec;23(12):1843-53. doi: 10.1038/mt.2015.166. Epub 2015 Sep 8.

Abstract

Long noncoding RNA cancer upregulated drug resistant (CUDR) is overexpressed in many tumors and promotes tumorigenesis. Herein, we demonstrate CUDR could enhance the human embryonic stem cells (ESC) differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells by reducing trimethylation on histone H3 twenty-seventh lysine (H3K27me3). On the other hand, excessive CUDR triggers hepatocyte-like cells malignant transformation. Mechanistically, we identify CUDR causes highly upregulated in liver cancer (HULC) and β-catenin abnormal expression by inhibiting HULC promoter methylation and promoting β-catenin promoter-enhancer chromatin looping formation mediated by CUDR-ccctc-binding factor (CTCF) complex, which recruits more RNA polII and P300. Strikingly, HULC and β-catenin activity are crucial for CUDR oncogenic function. These findings provide the first demonstration that CUDR plays a positive potential role in liver cancer stem cell through the cascade of CUDR-HULC/CUDR-β-catenin signaling, and offer insights into a novel link between long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and the epigenetic modification in cancer stem cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CCCTC-Binding Factor
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Hepatocytes / cytology
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Liver / cytology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Up-Regulation
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • CCCTC-Binding Factor
  • CTCF protein, human
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • HULC long non-coding RNA, human
  • Histones
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Repressor Proteins
  • UCA1 RNA, human
  • beta Catenin