X-Inactive-Specific Transcript: Review of Its Functions in the Carcinogenesis

Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard; Sepideh Dashti; Molood Farsi; Mohammad Taheri; Seyed Ali Mousavinejad

doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.690522

X-Inactive-Specific Transcript: Review of Its Functions in the Carcinogenesis

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Jun 11:9:690522. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.690522. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard¹, Sepideh Dashti¹, Molood Farsi², Mohammad Taheri³, Seyed Ali Mousavinejad⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
³ Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Skull Base Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

X-inactive-specific transcript (XIST) is one of the firstly discovered long non-coding RNAs with prominent roles in the process of X inactivation. Moreover, this transcript contributes in the carcinogenic process in different tissues. In addition to interacting with chromatin modifying molecules, XIST can be served as a molecular sponge for miRNAs to modulate expression of miRNA targets. Most of the studies have indicated an oncogenic role for XIST. However, in prostate cancer, a single study has indicated a tumor suppressor role for this lncRNA. Similar result has been reported for XIST in oral squamous cell carcinoma. In hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, osteosarcoma, and renal cell carcinoma, different studies have reported inconsistent results. In the present manuscript, we review function of XIST in the carcinogenesis.

Keywords: X-inactive-specific transcript; biomarker; cancer; expression; lncRNA.

Publication types

Review