STAT3-induced long noncoding RNAs in multiple myeloma cells display different properties in cancer

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 11;7(1):7976. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08348-5.

Abstract

Interleukin-6 (IL-6)-activated Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) facilitates survival in the multiple myeloma cell line INA-6 and therefore represents an oncogenic key player. However, the biological mechanisms are still not fully understood. In previous studies we identified microRNA-21 as a STAT3 target gene with strong anti-apoptotic potential, suggesting that noncoding RNAs have an impact on the pathogenesis of human multiple myeloma. Here, we describe five long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) induced by IL-6-activated STAT3, which we named STAiRs. While STAiRs 1, 2 and 6 remain unprocessed in the nucleus and show myeloma-specific expression, STAiRs 15 and 18 are spliced and broadly expressed. Especially STAiR2 and STAiR18 are promising candidates. STAiR2 originates from the first intron of a tumor suppressor gene. Our data support a mutually exclusive expression of either STAiR2 or the functional tumor suppressor in INA-6 cells and thus a contribution of STAiR2 to tumorigenesis. Furthermore, STAiR18 was shown to be overexpressed in every tested tumor entity, indicating its global role in tumor pathogenesis. Taken together, our study reveals a number of STAT3-induced lncRNAs suggesting that the interplay between the coding and noncoding worlds represents a fundamental principle of STAT3-driven cancer development in multiple myeloma and beyond.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Multiple Myeloma / genetics*
  • Multiple Myeloma / metabolism
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*

Substances

  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor