Neuroplastin beta-mediated upregulation of solute carrier family 22 member 18 antisense (SLC22A18AS) plays a crucial role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, leading to lung cancer cells' enhanced motility

Our recent study revealed an important role of the neuroplastin (NPTN)? downstream signal in lung cancer dissemination in the lung. The molecular mechanism of the signal pathway downstream of NPTN? is a serial activation of the key molecules we identi?ed: tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) adaptor, nuclear factor (NF)IA/NFIB heterodimer transcription factor, and SAM pointed-domain containing ETS transcription factor (SPDEF). The question of how dissemination is controlled by SPDEF under the activated NPTN? has not been answered. Here, we show that the NPTN?-SPDEF-mediated induction of solute carrier family 22 member 18 antisense (SLC22A18AS) is de?nitely required for the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through the NPTN? pathway in lung cancer cells. In vitro, the induced EMT is linked to the acquisition of active cellular motility but not growth, and this is correlated with highly disseminative tumor progression in vivo. The publicly available data also show the poor survival of SLC22A18AS-overexpressing lung cancer patients. Taken together, these data highlight a crucial role of SLC22A18AS in lung cancer dissemination, which provides novel input of this molecule to the signal cascade of NPTN?. Our ?ndings contribute to a better understanding of NPTN?-mediated lung cancer metastasis.