The expression of the long NEAT1_2 isoform is associated with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancers

Abstract

The long non-coding RNA <i>NEAT1</i> locus is transcribed into two overlapping isoforms, <i>NEAT1_1</i> and <i>NEAT1_2</i>, of which the latter is essential for the assembly of nuclear paraspeckles. <i>NEAT1</i> is abnormally expressed in a wide variety of human cancers. Emerging evidence suggests that the two isoforms have distinct functions in gene expression regulation, and recently it was shown that <i>NEAT1_2</i>, but not <i>NEAT1_1</i>, expression predicts poor clinical outcome in cancer. Here, we report that <i>NEAT1_2</i> expression correlates with HER2-positive breast cancers and high-grade disease. We provide evidence that <i>NEAT1_1</i> and <i>NEAT1_2</i> have distinct expression pattern among different intrinsic breast cancer subtypes. Finally, we show that <i>NEAT1_2</i> expression and paraspeckle formation increase upon lactation in humans, confirming what has previously been demonstrated in mice.