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

Yang Xia  ¹ , Xiangqian Xiao  ¹ , Xiongwei Deng  ¹ , Fang Zhang  ¹ , Xiaofei Zhang  ¹ , Qin Hu  ² , Wang Sheng  ³

Affiliations

• ¹ College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, PR China.
• ² College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, PR China. Electronic address: hq07616@bjut.edu.cn.
• ³ College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, PR China. Electronic address: shengwang@bjut.edu.cn.

Abstract

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. We showed here that anti-ASBEL antago played a significant tumor suppressive role in TNBC by effective down-regulating lncRNA ASBEL, which in turn led to increased BTG3 expression. The obtained data suggest lncRNA ASBEL as a novel therapeutic target in TNBC.

Keywords: ASBEL; BTG3; DNA oligonucleotide; Long non-coding RNA; Triple negative breast cancer.