LncRNA-mediated DNA methylation: an emerging mechanism in cancer and beyond

DNA methylation is one of the most important epigenetic mechanisms to regulate gene expression, which is highly dynamic during development and specifically maintained in somatic cells. Aberrant DNA methylation patterns are strongly associated with human diseases including cancer. How are the cell-specific DNA methylation patterns established or disturbed is a pivotal question in developmental biology and cancer epigenetics. Currently, compelling evidence has emerged that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) mediates DNA methylation in both physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of lncRNA-mediated DNA methylation, with emphasis on the roles of this mechanism in cancer, which to the best of our knowledge, has not been systematically summarized. In addition, we also discuss the potential clinical applications of this mechanism in RNA-targeting drug development.

Automated summary

DNA methylation is a crucial epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene expression, and aberrant patterns of DNA methylation are associated with human diseases such as cancer. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-mediated DNA methylation, with a focus on its roles in cancer. The potential clinical applications of this mechanism in RNA-targeting drug development are also discussed.