Long non-coding RNA SENCR is a positive regulator of ETV2

Abstract

Although long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as novel regulator of cell fate and gene expression, the regulation of vascular specific transcription factor by lncRNA in generation of induced endothelial cells (iEndo) has not been studied yet. In this study, ETS variant 2 (ETV2) converts human fibroblasts into iEndo, and smooth muscle and endothelial cell enriched migration/differentiationassociated long non-coding RNA (SENCR) was identified as a regulator of ETV2. iEndo showed similar morphology, endothelial cell markers, and tubular structure formation compared to human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). Furthermore, over-expression of SENCR increased ETV2 gene and protein expression by enhancing ETV2 promoter activity through recruitment of PSPC1. This is the first study demonstrates the role of SENCR contributed to ETV2 activation in generation of iEndo.