Targeting long non-coding RNA ASBEL with oligonucleotide antagonist for breast cancer therapy

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are defined as a class of RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides encoded by mammalian genomes that lack protein-coding potential. LncRNA ASBEL has been identified as an anti-sense transcript of BTG3 (B cell translocation gene 3) gene, which encodes an anti-proliferation protein. Remarkable down-regulation of BTG3 has been reported in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In the present study, a number of single-stranded modified anti-sense DNA oligonucleotides (antago) were designed, synthesized and screened for specific lncRNA ASBEL knockdown. Researchers from the Beijing University of Technology showed here that anti-ASBEL antago played a significant tumor suppressive role in TNBC by effective down-regulation of lncRNA ASBEL, which in turn led to increased BTG3 expression. The obtained data suggest lncRNA ASBEL as a novel therapeutic target in TNBC.

Tumor growth and H&E staining

A. Tumor volumes were measured at indicated time-points and shown as average of triplicate measurements with standard error bars (n = 5 for each group). B. Representative tumor tissues were extracted from mice and photographed. C. BTG3 expression was detected by qRT-PCR. Data were shown as average of triplicate measurements with standard error bars. D. Representative data of H&E staining of tumor tissues and organ tissues.

Xia Y, Xiao X, Deng X, Zhang F, Zhang X, Hu Q, Sheng W. (2017) Targeting long non-coding RNA ASBEL with oligonucleotide antagonist for breast cancer therapy. Biochem Biophys Res Commun [Epub ahead of print]. [abstract]

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