H19 long noncoding RNA (H19)

H19 long noncoding RNA (lncRNA H19) is a conserved imprinted transcript highly expressed in various fetal tissues and abnormally upregulated in multiple cancers, including gastric, hepatocellular, pancreatic, colorectal, breast, thyroid, lung, melanoma, and others, where it functions as an oncogene. It promotes tumorigenesis by regulating key oncogenic signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, MAPK, and JAK/STAT, driving cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and resistance to apoptosis, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. H19 acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) sponging miRNAs and as a scaffold facilitating RNA-binding protein interactions, such as with KSRP to enhance mRNA decay of targets like myogenin in undifferentiated cells. Its overexpression correlates with advanced tumor stages, metastasis, and poor prognosis, positioning it as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. Therapeutically, silencing H19 via siRNA or inhibitors suppresses tumor growth in preclinical models, suggesting its promise as a novel target, though challenges include its roles in normal development, stem cell differentiation, and metabolic regulation.

Other names

lncRNA H19H19 lncRNA

Downregulation of H19 inactivates oncogenic signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, MAPK, and JAK/STAT, reducing cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth