Oncogenic function of growth arrest-specific transcript 5 by competing with miR-423-3p to regulate SMARCA4 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) has been identified as a tumor suppressor due to its downregulation in several cancers. However, our comprehensive analyses revealed aberrant overexpression of GAS5 in various cancers, with a direct association with SMARCA4 in he...

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Main Authors: Sang Yean Kim, Jin Woong Ha, Min Jeong Na, Soyoung Jeon, Jung Hwan Yoon, Won Sang Park, Suk Woo Nam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-06-01
Series:Experimental and Molecular Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-025-01459-4
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author Sang Yean Kim
Jin Woong Ha
Min Jeong Na
Soyoung Jeon
Jung Hwan Yoon
Won Sang Park
Suk Woo Nam
author_facet Sang Yean Kim
Jin Woong Ha
Min Jeong Na
Soyoung Jeon
Jung Hwan Yoon
Won Sang Park
Suk Woo Nam
author_sort Sang Yean Kim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) has been identified as a tumor suppressor due to its downregulation in several cancers. However, our comprehensive analyses revealed aberrant overexpression of GAS5 in various cancers, with a direct association with SMARCA4 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Differential expression analyses were conducted using publicly available transcriptome datasets. Functional studies of GAS5 and its downstream targets in HCC were performed via small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown in various HCC cell lines, in vivo xenograft mouse models and spontaneous liver cancer models in Ras-transgenic mice. Here we discover that METTL3-mediated N 6-methyladenosine modification promoted IGF2BP2 binding, stabilizing GAS5 in HCC. GAS5 expression was significantly upregulated in large cohort of patients with solid cancer, including HCC. Targeted disruption of GAS5 resulted in notable inhibition of growth and proliferation in HCC cells. Further analyses demonstrated that GAS5 enhanced in vitro tumorigenesis and metastatic potential of HCC cells. MicroRNA target prediction and functional validation indicated that GAS5 shared a miR-423-3p binding element with SMARCA4 messenger RNA, functioning as a competing endogenous RNA. This interaction was validated in vitro tumorigenesis assays and in vivo models. Moreover, a synergistic effect was observed with vehicle containing a small interfering RNA mixture targeting both GAS5 and SMARCA4 in these animal models. N 6-methyladenosine-mediated IGF2BP2 binding stabilizes GAS5, which functions as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-423-3p, thereby enhancing the translation of SMARCA4 messenger RNA. GAS5 acts as a crucial regulator of the oncogenic SMARCA4 in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, presenting a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of liver malignancies.
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spelling doaj-art-8adb5f38a03543ddb67f7bcf4e4f40fa2025-08-20T03:45:19ZengNature Publishing GroupExperimental and Molecular Medicine2092-64132025-06-015761164117610.1038/s12276-025-01459-4Oncogenic function of growth arrest-specific transcript 5 by competing with miR-423-3p to regulate SMARCA4 in hepatocellular carcinomaSang Yean Kim0Jin Woong Ha1Min Jeong Na2Soyoung Jeon3Jung Hwan Yoon4Won Sang Park5Suk Woo Nam6Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seocho-guDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seocho-guDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seocho-guDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seocho-guDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seocho-guDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seocho-guDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seocho-guAbstract Long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) has been identified as a tumor suppressor due to its downregulation in several cancers. However, our comprehensive analyses revealed aberrant overexpression of GAS5 in various cancers, with a direct association with SMARCA4 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Differential expression analyses were conducted using publicly available transcriptome datasets. Functional studies of GAS5 and its downstream targets in HCC were performed via small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown in various HCC cell lines, in vivo xenograft mouse models and spontaneous liver cancer models in Ras-transgenic mice. Here we discover that METTL3-mediated N 6-methyladenosine modification promoted IGF2BP2 binding, stabilizing GAS5 in HCC. GAS5 expression was significantly upregulated in large cohort of patients with solid cancer, including HCC. Targeted disruption of GAS5 resulted in notable inhibition of growth and proliferation in HCC cells. Further analyses demonstrated that GAS5 enhanced in vitro tumorigenesis and metastatic potential of HCC cells. MicroRNA target prediction and functional validation indicated that GAS5 shared a miR-423-3p binding element with SMARCA4 messenger RNA, functioning as a competing endogenous RNA. This interaction was validated in vitro tumorigenesis assays and in vivo models. Moreover, a synergistic effect was observed with vehicle containing a small interfering RNA mixture targeting both GAS5 and SMARCA4 in these animal models. N 6-methyladenosine-mediated IGF2BP2 binding stabilizes GAS5, which functions as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-423-3p, thereby enhancing the translation of SMARCA4 messenger RNA. GAS5 acts as a crucial regulator of the oncogenic SMARCA4 in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, presenting a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of liver malignancies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-025-01459-4
spellingShingle Sang Yean Kim
Jin Woong Ha
Min Jeong Na
Soyoung Jeon
Jung Hwan Yoon
Won Sang Park
Suk Woo Nam
Oncogenic function of growth arrest-specific transcript 5 by competing with miR-423-3p to regulate SMARCA4 in hepatocellular carcinoma
Experimental and Molecular Medicine
title Oncogenic function of growth arrest-specific transcript 5 by competing with miR-423-3p to regulate SMARCA4 in hepatocellular carcinoma
title_full Oncogenic function of growth arrest-specific transcript 5 by competing with miR-423-3p to regulate SMARCA4 in hepatocellular carcinoma
title_fullStr Oncogenic function of growth arrest-specific transcript 5 by competing with miR-423-3p to regulate SMARCA4 in hepatocellular carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Oncogenic function of growth arrest-specific transcript 5 by competing with miR-423-3p to regulate SMARCA4 in hepatocellular carcinoma
title_short Oncogenic function of growth arrest-specific transcript 5 by competing with miR-423-3p to regulate SMARCA4 in hepatocellular carcinoma
title_sort oncogenic function of growth arrest specific transcript 5 by competing with mir 423 3p to regulate smarca4 in hepatocellular carcinoma
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-025-01459-4
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