Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, USA.
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, USA; University of Connecticut Stem Cell Institute, University of Connecticut, USA.
Semin Cancer Biol. 2021 Oct;75:38-48. doi: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.12.012. Epub 2020 Dec 17.
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process in which cells composing epithelial tissue lose requirements for physical contact with neighboring cells and acquire mesenchymal characteristics consisting of increased migratory and invasive behaviors. EMT is a fundamental process that is required for initial and later events during embryogenesis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) possess multipotency sufficient for their differentiation into bulk tumor cells and also have the capacity to undergo EMT. When CSCs initiate EMT programs the resulting cancerous mesenchymal cells become invasive and this migratory behavior also poises them for metastatic activity. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are functional RNA molecules that do not encode proteins, yet regulate the expression of protein-coding genes through recruitment or sequestration of gene-regulatory proteins and microRNAs. lncRNA exhibit tissue-specific patterns of gene expression during development and specific sets of lncRNAs are also involved in various cancer types. This review considers the interplay between lncRNAs and the biogenesis of CSCs. We also review function of lncRNAs in EMT in CSCs. In addition, we discuss the utility of lncRNAs as biomarkers of cancer progression, and their potential use as therapeutic targets for treatment of cancer.
上皮间质转化（EMT）是一种细胞过程，其中组成上皮组织的细胞失去与相邻细胞物理接触的要求，并获得包括增加迁移和侵袭行为在内的间充质特征。EMT 是胚胎发生过程中初始和后续事件所必需的基本过程。癌症干细胞（CSC）具有足够的多能性，可分化为大量肿瘤细胞，并且还具有 EMT 的能力。当 CSC 启动 EMT 程序时，由此产生的癌变间充质细胞变得具有侵袭性，这种迁移行为也使它们具有转移活性。长非编码 RNA（lncRNA）是不编码蛋白质的功能性 RNA 分子，但通过募集或隔离基因调控蛋白和 microRNA 来调节蛋白编码基因的表达。lncRNA 在发育过程中表现出组织特异性的基因表达模式，并且特定的 lncRNA 集也参与各种癌症类型。这篇综述考虑了 lncRNA 与 CSC 发生之间的相互作用。我们还回顾了 lncRNA 在 CSC 中的 EMT 中的功能。此外，我们讨论了 lncRNA 作为癌症进展生物标志物的实用性，以及它们作为癌症治疗治疗靶点的潜在用途。
