Partial Hepatectomy Induced Long Noncoding RNA Inhibits Hepatocyte Proliferation during Liver Regeneration

PLoS One. 2015 Jul 24;10(7):e0132798. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132798. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PHx) is a complex and well-orchestrated biological process in which synchronized cell proliferation is induced in response to the loss of liver mass. To define long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that participate in the regulation of liver regeneration, we performed microarray analysis and identified more than 400 lncRNAs exhibiting significantly altered expression. Of these, one lncRNA, LncPHx2 (Long noncoding RNA induced by PHx 2), was highly upregulated during liver regeneration. Depletion of LncPHx2 during liver regeneration using antisense oligonucleotides led to a transient increase in hepatocyte proliferation and more rapid liver regeneration. Gene expression analysis showed that LncPHx2 depletion resulted in upregulation of mRNAs encoding proteins known to promote cell proliferation, including MCM components, DNA polymerases, histone proteins, and transcription factors. LncPHx2 interacts with the mRNAs of MCM components, making it a candidate to regulate the expression of MCMs and other genes post-transcriptionally. Collectively, our data demonstrate that LncPHx2 is a key lncRNA that participates in a negative feedback loop modulating hepatocyte proliferation through RNA-RNA interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Hepatectomy*
  • Hepatocytes / physiology*
  • Liver Regeneration / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microarray Analysis
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / physiology*
  • Up-Regulation / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Long Noncoding

Grants and funding

The work was supported by Isis Pharmaceuticals in the form of salaries for authors LH, SSD, SB, PS, MS, JH, MJ, MK, ATW, CEH, SMF, BPM and SG, but the company did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.