The Long Noncoding RNA LINC02820 Promotes Tumor Growth and Metastasis Through Regulating MYH9 Expression in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in tumorigenesis, but their biological functions and mechanisms in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analyses to identify the differentially expressed lncRNAs between ESCC tumors and adjacent normal tissues, among which LINC02820 is significantly upregulated in ESCC. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends assays determined the transcription initiation and termination sites of LINC02820, confirming it as a novel transcript variant localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of ESCC cells. Functional studies demonstrated that LINC02820 promotes cell proliferation and migration in vitro and enhances tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC02820 interacts with Myosin-9 protein and prevent it from ubiquitination-mediated proteasomal degradation. Additionally, the RNA-binding protein insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 binds to LINC02820 and increase its RNA stability in ESCC cells, thus upregulating LINC02820 expression. Therefore, these findings indicate LINC02820 as an oncogenic lncRNA in ESCC progression and suggest its potential as a therapeutic target.