ALKHB5-demethylated lncRNA SNHG15 promotes myeloma tumorigenicity by increasing chromatin accessibility and recruiting H3K36me3 modifier SETD2

Chromatin instability plays a crucial role in multiple myeloma (MM) relapse and progression, but its mechanism remains obscure. Here we uncovered that m6A-demethylase ALKBH5 upregulated and stabilized lncRNA SNHG15, which was elevated in MM and positively correlated with unfavorable clinical prognosis factors. ALKBH5-SNHG15 axis participated in viability, and migration/invasion of myeloma cell lines and MM-xenografted SCID/NOD mice. Mechanically, ALKBH5 promoted the expression of trimethylated histone H3 at lysine 36 (H3K36me3) methyltransferase SETD2 through lncRNA SNHG15-mediated protein stability. ALKBH5-SNHG15 axis increased chromatin accessibility and altered the H3K36me3 enrichment at the gene body, which is responsible for transcription elongation. Our study suggested a novel epigenetically interaction of m6A methylation, lncRNA SNHG15, and histone SETD2/H3K36me3 modifications in myeloma progression, indicating ALKBH5 and lncRNA SNHG15 could serve as potential novel therapeutic targets for MM treatment.

Chromatin accessibility; Long non-coding RNA; Multiple myeloma; N-6 methyladenosine; Trimethylated histone H3 at lysine 36.