LincRNAs MONC and MIR100HG act as oncogenes in acute megakaryoblastic leukemia

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recognized as pivotal players during developmental ontogenesis and pathogenesis of cancer. The intronic microRNA (miRNA) clusters miR-99a similar to 125b-2 and miR-100 similar to 125b-1 promote progression of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL), an aggressive form of hematologic cancers. The function of the lncRNA hostgenes MIR99AHG (alias MONC) and MIR100HG within this ncRNA ensemble remained elusive. Results: Here we report that lncRNAs MONC and MIR100HG are highly expressed in AMKL blasts. The transcripts were mainly localized in the nucleus and their expression correlated with the corresponding miRNA clusters. Knockdown of MONC or MIR100HG impeded leukemic growth of AMKL cell lines and primary patient samples. The development of a lentiviral lncRNA vector to ectopically express lncRNAs without perturbing their secondary structure due to improper termination of the viral transcript, allowed us to study the function of MONC independent of the miRNAs in cord blood hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). We could show that MONC interfered with hematopoietic lineage decisions and enhanced the proliferation of immature erythroid progenitor cells. Conclusions: Our study reveals an unprecedented function of lncRNAs MONC and MIR100HG as regulators of hematopoiesis and oncogenes in the development of myeloid leukemia.