Review Article

LncRNAs in Stem Cells

Table 2

Regulatory roles of lncRNAs in different stem cells.

LncRNAStem cell typesRegulations and functions

AK028326ESCsTranscriptionally regulated by Oct4 and Nanog

AK141205ESCsA coactivator of Oct4

RMSTESCsInvolved in pluripotency maintenance and interacting with SOX2 and SUZ12

HERVHESCsFunction as nuclear lncRNAs with associations with OCT4, coactivators such as p300 and Mediator subunits

SOX2OTESCsModulate pluripotency through the regulation of SOX2 expression

Linc-RoRESCs, iPSCsFunction as microRNA sponge to prevent mRNA of some key transcription factors

XistESCs, iPSCsAn epigenetic regulator of X chromosome inactivation

Blnc1MSCsHighly induced during brown and beige adipogenesis and form a feed-forward regulatory loop with EBF2 to regulate adipocyte gene expression

FendrrMSCsInteract directly with the PRC2 and/or TrxG/MLL complexes and act as a modulator of chromatin signatures defining gene activity in embryonic development

BraveheartMSCsAn epigenetic factor, required for the progression of nascent mesoderm towards a cardiac fate by interacting with SUZ12

Linc-MD1MSCsPromote the switch of muscle differentiation from early to later stages by acting as miR-133 and miR-135 sponge

YAM-1MSCsAffect myogenesis via epigenetic transcriptional activation

HOTAIRASCs, CSCsBind both the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and the LSD1/CoREST/REST complex and thus modulate histone modifications on target genes

ANCRASCsEssential for the undifferentiated state

TINCRASCsInteract with mRNAs of many differentiation genes such as KRT80 and RNA-binding protein STAU1 to mediate mRNA stabilization through binding TINCR box

Six3osASCsPlay crucial roles in the lineage specification of adult stem cells

Dlx1asASCsPlay crucial roles in the lineage specification of adult stem cells

PnkyASCsInteract with the splicing regulator PTBP1 and regulate the expression and alternative splicing

HIF2PUTCSCsA regulatory role through HIF-2α

lncTCF7CSCsRecruit the SWI/SNF complex and further activated the Wnt signaling to promote self-renewal of liver CSCs and tumor propagation

MALAT-1CSCsServe as an oncogenic lncRNA in pancreatic cancer by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stimulating the expression of self-renewal factors such as Sox2

H19CSCsPrimary transcript of a microRNA miR-675; processing of H19 into miR-675 is also regulated by HuR

Linc00617CSCsFunction as a key regulator of EMT and promote cancer progression and metastasis via activating the transcription of Sox2