The long non-coding RNA NEAT1 is a ΔNp63 target gene modulating epidermal differentiation

The transcription factor & UDelta;Np63 regulates epithelial stem cell function and maintains the integrity of stratified epithelial tissues by acting as transcriptional repressor or activator towards a distinct subset of protein-coding genes and microRNAs. However, our knowledge of the functional link between increment Np63 transcriptional activity and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) expression is quite limited. Here, we show that in proliferating human keratinocytes increment Np63 represses the expression of the lncRNA NEAT1 by recruiting the histone deacetylase HDAC1 to the proximal promoter of NEAT1 genomic locus. Upon induction of differentiation, increment Np63 down-regulation is associated by a marked increase of NEAT1 RNA levels, resulting in an increased assembly of paraspeckles foci both in vitro and in human skin tissues. RNA-seq analysis associated with global DNA binding profile (ChIRP-seq) revealed that NEAT1 associates with the promoter of key epithelial transcription factors sustaining their expression during epidermal differentiation. These molecular events might explain the inability of NEAT1-depleted keratinocytes to undergo the proper formation of epidermal layers. Collectively, these data uncover the lncRNA NEAT1 as an additional player of the intricate network orchestrating epidermal morphogenesis. The transcription factor & UDelta;Np63 is a master regulator of epithelial development and integrity of stratified epithelial tissues. Here, the authors unveiled the lncRNA NEAT1 as an additional player of the highly complex regulatory network by which & UDelta;Np63 controls epidermal homeostasis.