Upregulation of the long noncoding RNA FOXD2-AS1 promotes carcinogenesis by epigenetically silencing EphB3 through EZH2 and LSD1, and predicts poor prognosis in gastric cancer

Oncogene. 2018 Sep;37(36):5020-5036. doi: 10.1038/s41388-018-0308-y. Epub 2018 May 23.

Abstract

Accumulating data indicate that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve as important modulators in biological processes and are dysregulated in diverse tumors. The function of FOXD2-AS1 in gastric cancer (GC) progression and related biological mechanisms remain undefined. A comprehensive analysis identified that FOXD2-AS1 enrichment was upregulated markedly in GC and positively correlated with a large tumor size, a later pathologic stage, and a poor prognosis. Gene-set enrichment analysis (GSEA) in GEO datasets uncovered that cell cycle and DNA replication associated genes were enriched in patients with high FOXD2-AS1 expression. Loss of FOXD2-AS1 function inhibited cell growth via inhibiting the cell cycle in GC, whereas upregulation of FOXD2-AS1 expression promoted cancer progression. The enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and lysine (K)-specific demethylase 1A (LSD1) proteins were found to serve as binding partners of FOXD2-AS1 and mediators of FOXD2-AS1 function. Mechanically, FOXD2-AS1 promoted GC tumorigenesis partly through EZH2 and LSD1 mediated EphB3 downregulation. The present results revealed that FOXD2-AS1 acted as a tumor inducer in GC partly through EphB3 inhibition by direct interaction with EZH2 and LSD1, and may prove to be a potential biomarker of carcinogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Disease Progression
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / genetics*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / genetics
  • Female
  • Histone Demethylases / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • Receptor, EphB3 / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology
  • Up-Regulation / genetics*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • long non-coding RNA FOXD2-AS1, human
  • Histone Demethylases
  • KDM1A protein, human
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Receptor, EphB3